Command Level Consulting for Attorneys Handling Their Toughest Cases
The Staffordsmith Group provides command level comprehensive Internal Affairs consulting & professional Applicant coaching.
Mission Statement
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide defense counsel and law enforcement applicants with objective, comprehensive and expertly informed guidance. We deliver clear, accurate analysis of Internal Affairs and Use of Force investigations, while also preparing aspiring officers to navigate the hiring process with confidence, integrity and professionalism.
Internal Affairs & Use of Force Defense Consulting
Why Attorneys Choose The Staffordsmith Group
Defense counsel relies on The Staffordsmith Group because Gregory Staffordsmith brings over 25 years of command-level law enforcement experience, including leading Internal Affairs, overseeing complex investigations, and evaluating the conduct and credibility of hundreds of officers.
His insight reflects the same analytical perspective agencies use to assess discipline, liability, and credibility—making it uniquely valuable in preparing an informed and strategic defense.
What We Provide
- Objective, expert analysis of Internal Affairs and Use-of-Force investigations
- Detailed review of administrative and criminal investigative files
- Identification of investigative weaknesses, contradictions, and procedural errors
- Assessment of officer actions based on policy, training, and accepted professional standards
- Clear, written analyses that support legal strategy
- Consultation in preparation for hearings, arbitration, and trial
Brady, Giglio & Credibility Exposure
Brady and Giglio considerations now extend well beyond criminal misconduct and can arise from administrative findings, credibility assessments, and internal documentation decisions.
Defense counsel benefit from consulting support grounded in firsthand experience with how credibility determinations are formed, memorialized, and later relied upon in disclosure decisions.
Learn more about Brady & Giglio exposure in New Jersey below.
Why It Matters
Internal Affairs investigations are technical, policy-driven, and often misunderstood outside of law enforcement. Having a former IA commander on your team helps you:
- Expose investigative oversights or inconsistencies
- Challenge improper conclusions or flawed methodologies
- Understand how agencies classify misconduct
- Anticipate how departments, experts, and command staff will interpret the facts
- Present a more complete and accurate picture of the officer’s actions
The Result
Attorneys gain a credible, authoritative perspective grounded in decades of real-world command experience. You gain clarity, strategy, and a competitive advantage — exactly when your client needs it most.
The Evolving Brady/Giglio Landscape in New Jersey
The Evolving Brady/Giglio Landscape in New Jersey
Brady and Giglio considerations in New Jersey have evolved significantly over the past several years. What was once largely limited to clear findings of dishonesty or criminal misconduct has expanded to include credibility assessments, administrative findings, reporting inconsistencies, and internal determinations that may never reach a courtroom.
Disclosure decisions are often made early in the process and applied broadly. In many cases, the most consequential determinations occur during internal reviews—well before a matter reaches litigation or testimony.
Understanding how these issues are identified, documented, and characterized is critical to managing exposure and protecting both cases and careers.
A Statewide High-Scrutiny Environment
Across New Jersey, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors operate within an increasingly cautious disclosure framework. Credibility issues—once viewed as isolated or agency-specific—are now evaluated with a broader lens and greater permanence.
Officers may face Brady/Giglio exposure arising from:
- Internal Affairs findings or sustained administrative violations
- Allegations involving judgment, documentation, or consistency
- Credibility assessments unrelated to criminal intent
- Supervisory or command-level conclusions memorialized in internal files
In many instances, officers encounter discrediting consequences without having testified or faced criminal charges.
Police Licensing Has Raised the Stakes
The implementation of statewide police licensing has fundamentally altered how Brady/Giglio issues impact law enforcement careers in New Jersey.
Credibility determinations and administrative findings are no longer confined to a single case or agency. These issues may now affect an officer’s ability to maintain certification and remain employable across the state.
As a result, matters that were once viewed as localized or temporary can now carry long-term professional consequences.
Why Timing and Strategy Matter
In Brady/Giglio matters, timing is often decisive. The most influential decisions are frequently made long before a case reaches court.
Critical inflection points include:
- Internal Affairs investigations and administrative reviews
- Supervisory assessments and documentation language
- Credibility determinations made outside adversarial proceedings
- The creation and preservation of internal records
Once a narrative is established, it can be difficult to meaningfully alter its trajectory.
How The Staffordsmith Group Supports Defense Counsel
The Staffordsmith Group provides defense attorneys with practical, experience-driven insight into how Brady/Giglio issues arise within New Jersey law enforcement agencies and how they are evaluated.
Our services include:
- Review and analysis of Internal Affairs and administrative files
- Identification of potential Brady/Giglio exposure points
- Assessment of credibility-related findings and documentation
- Strategic consultation regarding process, timing, and framing
- Institutional insight into how disclosure decisions are formed
This support allows defense counsel to engage issues earlier, more strategically, and with greater contextual understanding.
Experience That Informs Strategy
Our work is informed by decades of command-level experience overseeing Internal Affairs investigations, credibility determinations, and professional standards functions within New Jersey law enforcement agencies.
We understand how these decisions are made internally—and how they can later shape disclosure obligations, employment outcomes, and case strategy
Professional Coaching for Law Enforcement Candidates
Police interviews are intense, formal and unforgiving. A single unprepared interview can cost an otherwise qualified applicant the opportunity to move forward in the hiring process.
Receiving a "not selected" notice is discouraging but it doesn't mean you're unqualified. Most applicants are turned away simply because they weren't fully prepared for the background and interview phases. With the right coaching, the next round can be completely different.
Applicants contact us because the hiring process is complex, competitive and far different from a traditional job interview. We provide insider-level coaching from a 25+ year law enforcement professional who understands exactly what agencies look for-and what disqualifies candidates.
Every session is tailored to the applicant's unique background, strengths and concerns. We review past mistakes, strengthen weak areas and prepare applicants for the tough questions that command staff will ask. This is where confidence is built-careers begin to turn around.
After completing our coaching program, applicants walk into their next interview prepared, more confident and fully aware of what command staff expects. Instead of being overwhelmed, they communicate professionally, respond clearly and make the impression agencies are looking for.
Your preparation becomes obvious- and so does your potential!
This is the moment every applicant works for- earning the badge and celebrating with the people who supported them along the way. With proper preparation, guidance and coaching, qualified candidates turn setbacks into success and achieve their goal of becoming officers.
We help applicants stand out, succeed and reach this milestone with confidence.
Applicant Preparation Pricing
"We offer flexible preparation options designed to support applicants at every stage of the hiring process. Preparation starting at $149.99 Customized programs are available based on individual needs."
Single Session Coaching
A focused one-on-one session covering interview preparation, background concerns, or application review. Ideal for applicants seeking targeted support or clarification on specific issues.
Comprehensive Preparation Package
Our most popular option — a structured, multi-session program that guides applicants through the entire hiring process. Includes:
- Application and background packet review
- Panel interview coaching
- Personalized feedback and performance improvement
- Identification of red flags and strategies to address them
- Confidence-building preparation to reduce anxiety
- Guidance on social media, integrity questions, scenario responses, and more
Perfect for applicants who want full preparation and the highest level of readiness.
Advanced Applicant Program
Designed for applicants seeking deeper support, including individuals who:
- Have previously been rejected
- Have complex backgrounds or concerns
- Want to strengthen their professional presentation
- Are applying to multiple agencies
- Prefer ongoing coaching and access to guidance throughout the process
This program offers extended preparation, ongoing consultation, and priority scheduling.
Protecting Careers-Guiding Applicants Strengthening Agencies
Founder & Principal Consultant
Gregory E. Staffordsmith is a Police Captain with over 25 years of law enforcement experience, specializing in Internal Affairs, professional standards, high-risk investigations, and the evaluation of police conduct. Over the course of his career, he led investigative units, commanded Internal Affairs operations, conducted and supervised hundreds of criminal and administrative investigations, and completed more than 500 law-enforcement background checks.
Recognized for his fairness, integrity, and deep understanding of policy, procedure, and officer accountability, Greg has earned the respect of police leadership, union representatives and legal counsel. His expertise in Internal Affairs, Use of Force review, and investigative best practices now serves as a critical resource for defense attorneys seeking objective, comprehensive case analysis.
In addition to his investigative consulting work, Greg also prepares the next generation of officers through a dedicated Law-Enforcement Applicant Preparation Program. Drawing on decades of interview experience and professional standards leadership, he coaches applicants through interviews, backgrounds and the entire hiring process — helping them avoid common pitfalls and present themselves with confidence and professionalism.
Greg holds both the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Public Manager (CPM) credentials and is a graduate of the New Jersey Chiefs of Police Command & Leadership Program, modeled after West Point Leadership.
With a commitment to clarity, accuracy, and integrity, Greg brings unmatched real-world insight to every client he serves.
Call/Text Today! 732-620-2722
