David West — Instructor Profile

About David West

David west is a retired Kentucky State Police detective with over 25 years in arson investigations and electrical fire analysis. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Criminal Law along with a KLEC Police Instructors Certification from Eastern Kentucky University. He taught classes at the Kentucky State Police Academy specializing in arson investigations. Electrical fire analysis, fire related deaths and insurance fraud. He is a Nationally Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator and a member of NAFI and IAAI and has for decades assisted State and Federal agencies with scene examinations involving specialized skills and knowledge assessment. In April of 2023 he published a new book titled Electrical Fire Analysis Failure Mechanisms that cause fires a true asset for the fire scene analyst examining a power system. His expertise has been relied on in State and Federal proceedings for the past 35 years producing comprehensive credible reports and giving expert testimony. Several cases he has been involved with have been affirmed by the Kentucky Supreme Court the most recent in August of 2024.

David West career began with technical college and becoming a master electrician and contractor that evolved into fire causation analysis and law enforcement. He maintained his electrical Inspectors license credentials while working for the Kentucky State Police and used this skill to test alternative hypotheses examining fire scenes. Known for his expertise he has testified in some high -profile cases, provided detailed reports, and served as an expert witness. As a retired police/ fire investigator, he trains new investigators assigned the task of examining a fire scene and attorneys who weigh the probative value of the evidence in a legal proceeding.