Physical Security and Investigations Expert Patrick McCarthy
Patrick McCarthy, CPP, CFE, is an expert in physical security and investigations. His forensic practice includes work on behalf of civil and criminal litigators. Often this includes analyzing not only the facts of the case, but also applicable policies, processes, procedures, and statutes. Mr. McCarthy’s areas of expertise include:
Premises liability claims arising from violent crime
Negligent security claims
Wrongful death claims
Claims of negligence, lack of compliance, and lack of due diligence in hiring and background investigations
Claims of negligence, lack of compliance, and lack of due diligence in workplace violence education, training, and prevention
Claims of negligence by a public entity resulting in injury to citizens at a public event
Employee misbehavior, internal fraud, and policy violations
Financial crimes and lack of due diligence in the financial industry
Conducting complex investigations
Prior to joining PD&A in 2023, Mr. McCarthy held executive leadership roles in global security at several Fortune 500 companies, including U.S. Bank, Cisco Systems, Inc., Fifth Third Bancorp, Capital One Financial Corp, Kohler Co., Western Digital Technology, and other corporate entities. In those roles, he led global, multi-functional investigative and security teams, developing comprehensive policies, procedures, operational manuals, and directives to support these teams. He created documents addressing such issues as employee misconduct investigations, external investigations, worldwide physical security, site assessments across more than 25 countries, and global executive and personnel security.
Mr. McCarthy conducted or led more than 1,800 internal investigations over his 28-year corporate career, with many of those investigations being the most complex, sensitive, or high-profile issues facing the organization. Many of these investigations took place in Asia, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Prior to his corporate career, Mr. McCarthy retired from a notable 18-year career as a law enforcement professional, having served with three large metropolitan agencies in Southern California and the Utah State Department of Public Safety, where he held positions such as State Narcotics Agent, sergeant, field supervisor, patrol officer, training officer, SWAT operator, and police helicopter pilot.
Throughout his career, Mr. McCarthy established himself as a subject matter expert in conducting criminal investigations and as a respected leader of other law enforcement personnel. He has testified in state and federal courts in California, Nevada, and Utah more than 300 times in a broad spectrum of criminal cases and more than two dozen times as an expert regarding narcotics influence and recognition.
Mr. McCarthy is a Certified Protection Professional through ASIS International and a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. These are considered the highest-level certifications of the security industry.
Mr. McCarthy holds a Master of Science degree in Business Ethics and Compliance from the New England College of Business, a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the same institution. He has earned and holds multiple other security industry-recognized certificates, including the International Security Management Association (ISMA) Security Leadership Certificate Program from Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, Washington, DC, and the Security Executive Council Next Generation Leadership Program from the University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business, Columbia, SC.
To schedule a consultation with Patrick McCarthy or other PD&A experts, call 949-723-2211 or email us at expert@parkdietzassociates.com.