Résumé of Jennifer L. Shen
Professional Summary
Through a combination of leadership, communication skills, vision, and an aggressive pursuit of customer service excellence, my teams have earned the highest level of achievement and respect at the local, state, and national level. My skill set includes exceptional written and verbal communication, the ability to present complex scientific concepts to a non-technical audience, and the tools to navigate through the political arena in a high-stress environment.
Highlights
- Oversaw the International Accreditation of the Crime Laboratory in 2014 and the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) management-centered accreditation in 2019. Achievements ensure the laboratory is providing the highest quality of work utilizing best practices.
- Envisioned and implemented the creation of a Forensic Technology Unit, a section that is now accredited and responsible for assisting in hundreds of mobile device analyses. This novel approach provides highly technical analytical services with in-house experts to assist in immediate crime solving efforts.
- Commissioned and oversaw the successful completion of research resulting in groundbreaking work in DNA analysis on fired cartridge cases. This research resulted in two scientific publications and has been presented several times across the country in forensic forums. The San Diego Police Department laboratory is one of only a handful in the nation capable of this type of analysis. Analyses are solving homicide cases that were previously unsolvable and assist the San Diego Police Department in achieving one of the highest homicide clearance rates in the country.
- Envisioned and implemented a new system to track sexual assault kits in the San Diego Police Department Property Room and oversaw the project that resulted in all kits being counted, entered into the database, and assessed for testing status. This foresight allowed us to meet new state regulations with no additional funding.
- Led implementation of a proactive system of fingerprint analyses that tripled both case output and latent print hits, as well as significant customer service improvements that helped solve property crimes quickly and assisted in solving several cold case homicides.
- Envisioned and oversaw the remodel of laboratory space to include the new Forensic Technology Section, a more cohesive administrative unit, a new space for the Narcotics Vault, a modern facility to accommodate additional personnel, and a streamlined analytical footprint in the Forensic Biology Section which resulted in a cost reduction for the City along with a notable increase in productivity for the unit.
- Lectured in three states, Mexico and England, and have presented locally in virtually every forum available.
- Recognized forensic expert who was called upon over 200 times to provide testimony in important criminal trials in municipal, superior, and federal court.
- As part of the Forensic Alcohol Review committee, co-authored Title 17, the California State law that governs forensic alcohol testing.
Experience
Alliant International University
Faculty Area Content Expert
January 2020 to Present
- Create course content for “Forensic Victimology: Prevention and Safety Planning”
- Develop and provide overall vision for course content
- Collaborate with the development team to enhance the course
San Diego Police Department
Crime Laboratory Director
September 2011 to December 2019
- As a Commanding Officer for the San Diego Police Department, responsible for managing the operation of the Crime Laboratory which includes supervising nine direct reports and overseeing 80 people in the laboratory
- Accountable for all areas of forensics: DNA, Chemistry, Forensic Technology, Latent Prints, Firearms, Trace Evidence, Crime Scene Processing, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Questioned Documents, Polygraph, and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory task force members
- Represent the Department publicly in high-stress situations that requires poise and political savvy to navigate
- Write and manage grants which have resulted in a technically advanced DNA Unit that is one of a few in the country able to provide this superior level of service to investigators
- Direct laboratory policy and provide the vision for the advancement of technology and customer service, while ensuring the laboratory helps set policy on a local, state, and national level
National University
Adjunct Professor
February 2014 to February 2017
- Developed curriculum and taught a Master’s Level course on Crime Scene Investigation as part of the Forensic Science Program
- Responsible for teaching students the elements of crime scene investigation and reconstruction, with an emphasis on blood stain pattern interpretation and trajectory reconstruction
San Diego Police Department
Supervising Criminalist
March 2005 to September 2011
- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Forensic Chemistry Unit: structuring workflow, reviewing reports, setting policy, providing technical advice, and issuing performance evaluations
- Develop and provide overall vision for course content
- Crime Scene Reconstruction Team: reviewing crime scene reports, attending scenes as a trainer, providing technical expertise and testimony, setting schedules, and responding to reconstruction requests
Criminalist
Trace Evidence and Crime Scene Reconstruction
January 1993 to March 2005
- Responsible for the analysis of trace evidence for comparison purposes
- Areas of expertise included: hair and fiber analysis, the examination and comparison of impression evidence, arson and low explosive analysis, forensic unknowns, and paint examination
- Analytical procedures required knowledge in the areas of microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and wet chemistry
- Other duties required proficiency testing, generation of written reports, and presentation of expert testimony in court
- Criminalist-On-Call Program: utilized expertise in the areas of crime scene reconstruction, blood spatter interpretation, bullet trajectory determination, and specialized evidence collection and documentation techniques to reconstruct how the crime occurred
San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Crime Laboratory
Criminalist (Toxicology)
January 1993 to March 1995
Poisonlab, Inc.
Supervising Forensic Toxicologist
Forensic Chemist
January 1991 to December 1992
June 1990 to December 1990
Professional Awards and Certifications
- Completed the supervisor, management, and leadership academies for the City of San Diego and achieved Public Manager certification
- 2014 San Diego Police Foundation's "Women in Blue" award for being a trailblazer in a nontraditional law enforcement career
- Member of the California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (CACLD), the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) and was the San Diego Police Department's representaitve on the Major City Chief's Forensic Science Committee (MCCFSC) for 8 years
Education
Master of Science in Forensic Science, National University, 1993
Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of California at San Diego, Revelle College, 1989
Public Speaking Appearances
- 2018 San Diego Police Foundation Women in Blue Luncheon honoring women in law enforcement
- Speaker at a 2018 Women in Business dinner event
- Nominated and selected to present a SUE Talk (Successful, Unstoppable, and Empowered Women), 2019
- Speaker at the 2019 San Diego Leadership Symposium
- Presented the San Diego Police Department’s novel approach to fired cartridge case analysis for DNA to the Major City Chief’s Forensic Science Seminar in Philadelphia in September 2019
- Participated in two TV pilots, in an advisory on-camera role
