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Catherine Garcia

Catherine Garcia
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Catherine Garcia

Supervising Investigator, Sex Crimes, Human Trafficking, and Child Abduction, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (Ret.)

Chula Vista, CA

Catherine Garcia is a trainer and consultant.  She has civil and criminal investigative and training expertise in the areas of sexual assault, stalking, family violence and fraud. She is a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and is a Cadre Expert Speaker for End Violence Against Women International.  Ms. Garcia has been a community speaker and instructor on topics such as undercover operations, real estate fraud, elder abuse, fraud prevention and identity theft, in addition to sexual assault and stalking.

Ms. Garcia started her law enforcement career in 1987 with the San Diego Police Department.  She achieved the rank of detective in 1992, working a variety of assignments including vice, dignitary protection, and sex crimes.  Ms. Garcia was among the first domestic violence detectives at SDPD.  Their unique proactive unit was a model for the rest of the country.

Ms. Garcia became a District Attorney Investigator with San Diego County in 2001 and retired in 2017.  In her 30-year law enforcement career, she gained expertise in sex crimes, stalking, child abuse, domestic violence, economic crimes, and fraud.  Ms. Garcia has investigated over 1,000 sexual assault cases and supervised the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking unit.  Ms. Garcia was awarded “Peace Officer of the Year” in 2009 for her work on an investigation involving a child with a severe brain injury.

Ms. Garcia has a Bachelor of Science in public administration from the University of Arizona.

Curriculum Vitae
Sample Material
Specializations:
  • Best practices for thorough sexual assault investigations
  • “False” statements in sexual assault investigations
  • Investigating drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault cases
  • Techniques for finding post arrest communications and using them as evidence in court
  • Finding and using non-traditional evidence in sexual assault investigations
  • Identifying, investigating, and prosecuting human trafficking
  • Threat assessment and stalking investigation
  • Family violence and child abduction: investigation and using the family court process
  • Sex Offenders: risk assessment, mental health and competency considerations, monitoring and community ramifications