Dale is an associate in the litigation department of Lackie, Dammeier, & McGill. Dale began his law enforcement career in 1989 as a sheriff’s deputy for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).  As a deputy, Dale worked a variety of assignments which included field training officer, detective, traffic enforcement, tactical flight officer, and helicopter pilot. He has received awards for exemplary performance, numerous commendations, and acknowledgements for excellence from various municipal agencies, civic groups, the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, and the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts Bar Association.   As a recognized expert in gangs, Dale has served as an expert witness in criminal cases and has been called on by numerous agencies to consult on police training and tactics.  While on the LASD, Dale was a unit representative for the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) where he served on ALADS’ contract negotiation committees and political endorsement committees.  During his tenure on the LASD, he wrote published articles for the National Tactical Officer Association’s highly respected quarterly journal, The Tactical Edge, as a recognized expert in field patrol tactics. Additionally, Dale has completed the NTOA’s Special Weapon’s Team Supervisor Course, and the California P.O.S.T. certified Crisis Negotiations Course. In 1996, Dale was appointed as a member of a committee to develop a police early warning and tracking system, as one of the principal post-Kolt’s Commission reforms. The policy which resulted from this committee was one which closely monitored force and other risk management matters. Subsequently, Dale, along with the General Counsel of the Kolts Commission presented the policy as part of a national panel conference held at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. This early intervention system has since been adopted and instituted by numerous state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Just prior to retiring from the law enforcement, Dale went to law school at Western State University where he earned the Criminal Law Practice Certificate with Distinction, and an exemplary Public Service commendation award. Additionally, he was awarded Witkin Awards for Evidence II, Advanced Criminal Procedure, and Advanced Criminal Evidence. Dale was a member of the Dean’s Circle, was on the 3L Honor Roll, and received the Los Angeles Criminal Courts Bar Association “Barry Levine” Scholarship, the Scott McCune Memorial Scholarship, merit scholarships, and was the past president of the Criminal Law Association. During law school, he worked as a certified law clerk at the Orange County District Attorney’s office in the Homicide Unit. While at the Homicide Unit, he wrote numerous evidentiary motions and briefs. Additionally, Dale used his first hand experience in OIS to draft District Attorney decision and opinion letters for several police agency Officer Involved Shootings during the period he was assigned to the homicide unit. He is licensed to practice law in California and in the United States District Court, Central District of California.  Dale also has a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and his undergraduate degree in criminal justice and military officer studies from the University of Toledo, in Toledo, OH. 

Prior to joining Lackie, Dammeier, & McGill, Dale was an attorney and served as a criminal investigations team leader with the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) where he was assigned to the only specialized national criminal team in the agency, He initiated, planned, and investigated criminal violations of federal statutes related to inter-jurisdictional or national benefits plans with complex organizational structures. Many cases involved coordination with other federal agencies such as the IRS, FBI, Postal Inspector, U.S. Attorney’s office, as well as many state and municipal entities. Dale worked closely with the Department of Justice in preparing cases for litigation and provided technical guidance. As a team leader, Dale managed a multi-state federal team caseload and trained investigators and attorneys.  Dale conducted analyses of legal issues and policies arising under ERISA, U.S.C. Titles 18 and 29, the Internal Revenue Code, and related state and federal laws and regulations affecting employee benefit plans and labor organizations with a primary focus on complex fraud and white collar crimes.  The team has been responsible for multi-million dollar settlements, and millions of dollars in recoveries and asset forfeitures. 

     Dale has a great deal of experience in police training and tactics, investigations, police agency liability, and advising city councils regarding public safety. Due to his education, training, and experience, he has taught various Administration of Justice courses as an adjunct professor at several local colleges since 2006. Prior to his law enforcement career, Dale served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army for eight years, and was Ranger and Airborne qualified. With his background, Dale has also worked as a law enforcement and military technical advisor for numerous television shows and movies.

Dale can be contacted at Dale@policeattorney.com