Security Expert Witness
Simon Osamoh is a Minneapolis-based security expert witness for targeted violence, workplace violence, and negligent security cases nationwide. He provides case review, expert reports, and testimony for defense and plaintiff counsel in civil and criminal matters involving violent incidents, security operations, and the standard of care.
About Simon Osamoh
Former British detective and head of counterterrorism at Mall of America
Simon Osamoh is a security risk management consultant and former Detective Sergeant with Thames Valley Police in England. As head of counterterrorism at Mall of America, he led more than 60 security professionals, including behavior detection, K9, and intelligence teams, and worked alongside the FBI and DHS.
Since 2014 he has led Kingswood Security Consulting, advising businesses, schools, nonprofits, and faith communities on threat assessment, vulnerability assessment, and emergency planning. He is normally retained by defense counsel and also accepts plaintiff matters.
Areas of expertise
Targeted violence, active shooter, and mass shooting incidents
Workplace violence and behavioral threat assessment
Negligent and inadequate security and premises liability
Retail violence and shopping center security
Security guard operations: hiring, training, supervision, and post orders
Foreseeability, security risk, and vulnerability assessments
Houses of worship, schools, and other open public venues
Incident response, root-cause analysis, and security policies and procedures
Venues: shopping malls and retail centers, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, workplaces and offices, apartments and condominiums, hotels, and parking lots and garages.
Why attorneys retain Simon
Investigator’s eye: more than 10 years with Thames Valley Police in England, rising to Detective Sergeant in the Organized Crime Unit, presenting evidence in multi-week criminal trials, and receiving multiple Chief Constable’s Commendations.
Real-world security leadership: head of counterterrorism at Mall of America, North America’s largest shopping and entertainment center.
Corporate risk experience: risk and compliance leadership at U.S. Bank, Equiniti, and Wells Fargo.
Recognized voice: author of How to Survive a Mass Shooting and 10 Powerful Strategies for Conflict De-Escalation, featured in The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic, and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the Star Tribune.
Trained as an expert: SEAK expert witness training; member of ASIS International, the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP), the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC), and InfraGard.
How Simon works
Simon reviews the full record, inspects the site where needed, and measures the security decisions that were made against recognized industry standards, comparable facilities, and the threat picture at the time. His method is documented and repeatable, built to meet the reliability requirements of Federal Rule of Evidence 702 (Daubert) and state equivalents, and he explains his opinions in plain language for judges and juries.
Standards and practices: the ANSI/ASIS Workplace Violence and Active Assailant standard, NFPA 3000 for active shooter and hostile events, ASIS risk assessment guidance, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), behavioral threat assessment practice, crime-foreseeability and calls-for-service analysis, and the contracts, post orders, and training records that define a security operation.
Services: case review and merit assessment · consulting (non-testifying) expert · site inspections · written expert reports · rebuttal of opposing experts · deposition question preparation · deposition, trial, mediation, and arbitration testimony · remote and expedited reviews nationwide
Case examples
Shooting inside a regional shopping mall
Retained by defense counsel for a contract security provider after a patron was shot inside an enclosed mall. Simon reviewed the security contract, post orders, incident reports, depositions, the police investigation, and surveillance video. He analyzed the standard of care for comparable regional malls, the observe-and-report role of unarmed officers, and whether the attack could realistically have been detected before the first shot. His report also rebutted the plaintiff’s security expert, including that expert’s reliance on crime-risk scores and the lack of a site visit. The case resolved at mediation.
Fatal shooting in a mall parking lot
Retained by defense counsel in a wrongful death claim after a shooting outside a department store entrance at a regional mall. Simon reviewed the security contract and staffing schedules, post orders, daily activity logs, incident reports, the police services agreement, and surveillance video to assess foreseeability, staffing levels, and the lockdown response. The case resolved at mediation.
Names, locations, and identifying details are withheld to protect client confidentiality.
Frequently asked questions
What types of cases does Simon take?
Civil and criminal matters involving targeted violence, workplace violence, negligent security, and security guard practices. He is normally retained by defense counsel and also accepts plaintiff matters.
Does Simon work on cases outside Minnesota?
Yes. Simon is based in Minneapolis and reviews cases nationwide, traveling for site inspections, depositions, and trial testimony.
What should I send for an initial review?
A short case summary, the incident date and location, the parties involved, and any key deadlines. Simon will run a conflict check and let you know quickly whether he can help.
Is a CV available?
Yes. A current CV and testimony list are available on request. Use the form below and they will be sent to you.
Who is a good expert witness for a mall or retail shooting case?
Simon Osamoh led counterterrorism at Mall of America, North America’s largest shopping and entertainment center, and has been retained in shooting cases at other regional malls. He pairs hands-on mall security leadership with detective-level investigative experience, so he can speak to both how a security operation should run and how the evidence fits together.
Does Simon handle church and house of worship security cases?
Yes. Simon is the author of three books on church security, including Securing Church Operations and How to Start a Church Safety Team, and he advises congregations and faith-based organizations on safety teams, threat assessment, and emergency planning.
What standards does Simon use to judge whether security was reasonable?
He compares the security in place with the practices of comparable facilities, the contract and post orders that defined the operation, and recognized guidance such as the ANSI/ASIS workplace violence standard and NFPA 3000, weighed against what was foreseeable at the time.
Last updated: November 2026
Discuss a case with Simon
Share a few details about your matter. Simon will run a conflict check and respond promptly. A current CV and testimony list are available on request.