SRT Team – SRT Body-Worn Camera

Leadership

Shellie E. Solomon, Ph.D.

CEO and Executive Project Director

Shellie Solomon is the CEO of JSS and the Executive Project Director for the SRT BWC program. She oversees all components of the SRT micro-grants administration process and the training and technical assistance aspects of the project. Working closely with team leaders and supervisors she ensures that the long-term and short-term goals are accomplished. She was instrumental in the creation and development of the on-line application process, the Policy Wizard, the payment system, and the monitoring and tracking of all micro-grant related aspects of the program. She is involved in the original BWC policy implementation program that was begun by BJA in 2016 (see bwctta.com). Shellie holds a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, an M.A in public policy from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maastricht, Netherlands, United Nations University in Public Policy and Governance.

Craig D. Uchida, Ph.D.

President and Communications Director

Craig D. Uchida is the President of JSS and the Communications Director for the SRT BWC program. As Communications Director of the SRT BWC Program, Craig oversees activities related to information and communication, including the website, newsletter, toolkit, and reports. He has been involved in the SRT BWC program from its inception as well as the original BWC implementation program that was begun by BJA in 2016 (see bwctta.com). Craig is a criminologist who has conducted an evaluation of BWCs in the LAPD and has written extensively on digital evidence management and BWCs. He holds a Master’s degrees in American History from SUNY Stony Brook and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany.

Marc Swatt, Ph.D

Project Director/Senior Research

Marc Swatt is a Project Director/Senior Research Statistician at JSS. Marc oversees the SRT data repository/tracking system, application scoring and assessment, grant requirements and special conditions, and project evaluation. Marc has worked at JSS since 2012 and has been involved in a number of evaluation and technical assistance projects. Marc holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Delaware and Criminal Justice from Kent State University, an M.A. in Criminal Justice from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Meet Our Staff

Mason McVay, B.S.

Research Associate

Mason McVay is a Research Associate for JSS. He is actively involved in the grants management side of the SRT BWC program. He assists with the micro-grant application process, the help desk, technical issues with management software, budget analysis, and the payment process. Mason’s background in evaluating LAPD’s body-worn camera implementation project gives him a unique perspective on BWCs. He rode on patrol and conducted systematic social observations of patrol officers; that is, he observed how they used their cameras. In addition, he conducted interviews with officers to assess their challenges and benefits as they wore the cameras. Mason graduated from Florida International University in Miami, FL with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Mathematical Sciences.

Sean Kato, B.S.

Data Scientist

Sean Kato is a Data Scientist with JSS. Sean has worked on research grants related to homicide investigations, the implementation of body-worn cameras, the National Prosecutors’ Consortium, and the LAPD’s transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Sean is a member of the SRT BWC Data Science Group where he assists with data collection, analysis, and computer programming. Sean graduated from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.

Alyssa Blanco M.S.

Research Associate

Alyssa Blanco is a Research Associate at JSS. Alyssa has worked on the SRT BWC team since 2021. She has focused on data collection, background research, and assisting with the SRT helpline. Alyssa holds a Master of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the California State University of Long Beach and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Morgan State University.