Team

Enrique Garcia is a retired sergeant from the San Jose Police Department with almost 29 years of full-time law enforcement experience, plus 5 previous years in the Reserve Unit. Enrique worked assignments in Patrol and the Field Training Program as an officer and supervisor, Sexual Assaults, Homicide, Robbery, and the Office of the Chief of Police managing the Media Relations Unit. Enrique is a recognized Interview & Interrogation subject-matter expert for the State of California P.O.S.T. Commission. Enrique also received an Investigative Excellence Award from California P.O.S.T. – Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation for solving a complex homicide case.

Paul Francois is a retired lieutenant from the San Jose Police Department with 29 years of law enforcement experience. Paul’s previous assignments include: Patrol Watch Commander, Detective and Supervisor in the Physical Child Abuse Unit, Detective in the Sexual Assault Investigation Unit, Field Training Program Supervisor, and the Office of the Chief of Police in Research and Development. Paul has also received the Police Academy Instructor of the Year Award.

Nicole Decker assists in handling many of our day to day communications with clients, processing registrations and payments. Nicole is also an Administrative Assistant and Graphic Designer for the San Jose Police Officers’ Association.

Julianne handles our day to day communications with instructors and Agency Contacts as well as assists in scheduling all our existing and new courses. Julianne also works as Visual Manager for Macy’s Department Store.

Helen Berman handles our day to day communications with clients, processing all registrations and payments. Helen graduated from UC Santa Barbara and has over 15 years of professional experience.

Mike Rains has a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude in English Literature from the California State University at Long Beach. Mike, while serving as a police officer in the City of Santa Monica, received a scholarship to attend law school. He earned his Juris Doctorate summa cum laude at Golden West University School of Law. After graduating from law school, he entered the private practice of law, leaving police work in 1980.

Mike worked for 18 years at the San Francisco based law firm of Carroll, Burdick & McDonough and founded Rains Lucia Stern, PC in May, 1999. The firm emphasizes the representation of public safety personnel in administrative, disciplinary, civil, criminal and labor-related issues. Mike has over 30 years representing police officers and other high profile clients in civil and criminal litigation.

Johnene Stebbins has been a prosecutor with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office since 1998. Ms. Stebbins has handled the prosecution of three-strike, homicide, robberies, child molest, sexual assault, domestic violence and fraud cases. She is a regular instructor for the California District Attorney’s Association, training prosecutors in evidence. Over the years, Ms. Stebbins has taught various subjects to law enforcement officers in the police academy, as well as legal updates for the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation.

Stella Cruz is currently a Criminal Investigator in the Child Abduction Unit at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Prior to working at the district attorney’s office, Stella was a police officer with the San Jose Police Department. She worked as a detective in the Assaults Unit as well as the Sexual Assaults Investigations Unit. As a detective in the Sexual Assaults Unit, she conducted hundreds of victim interviews with children that resulted in numerous convictions. Stella obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communications and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of California Santa Barbara. Prior to joining the San Jose Police Department, Stella worked as an elementary school teacher for seven years and was tasked as a resource teacher to instruct other teachers in the area of Technology, Mathematics and Science.

Captain Brian K. Spears has been with the San Jose Police Department since 1997. He is formerly the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Commander as well as the Child Exploit Detail Supervisor. Brian is also a sworn member of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force. He has hosted and facilitated various law enforcement symposiums on child exploitation. In addition, Brian has served as a detective in Homicide, Assaults, and Financial Crimes.

Captain Brian Matchett began his law enforcement career with the San Jose Police Department in 1995.  As an officer and sergeant, he was assigned to Patrol, Metro, Traffic Enforcement (Motors), Field Training, Regional Auto Theft Task Force, and Internal Affairs Criminal Investigation Detail.  As a Lieutenant he was assigned to Patrol, Commander for the Internal Affairs Unit, and Commander for Special Operations (Metro, VCET, SCU).  As a Captain he is assigned to the Support Services Division.  Captain Matchett holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice.  He attended the Sherman Block Leadership Institute and is a graduate of Leadership San Jose.

Jeff Profio is a lieutenant with the West Valley Mission Community College Police Department.  He retired from the San Jose Police Department after 25 years of service. Jeff is also a certified POST Master Instructor. In addition to Internal Affairs, Jeff has been assigned to the SJPD MERGE Team (SWAT), the Robbery Investigations Unit, the Vice Unit, the Covert Response Unit, and as a Field Training Officer.

Officer Johnna Watson has been with the Oakland Police Department since 1992.  She was a Reserve Officer for three years before being hired full time in 1995. She is currently assigned to the Office of the Chief of Police as a Public Information Officer in the Media Relations Office. She has held this position since 2011.  She has worked assignments in the FTO Program, as an Internal Affairs In-Take Officer, Community Policing, Walking Beat, Bicycle Officer, Dual Purpose Motorcycle, Honor Guard, and as a Reserve, a boat operator in the Marine Unit.  She has been an instructor for Firearms, Driving, Patrol Procedures, both in-service and for the Oakland Police Department Academy.  She was named Reserve of the Year in 1993 and received the Department’s Medal of Merit in 2017 for her media management of the Ghost Ship Fire.

Sgt. Rafael Varela has been with the San Jose Police Department since 1999. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from San Jose State University. Rafael is currently assigned as a patrol supervisor. He has worked assignments as a Robbery Detective, Task Force Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE), Special Operations METRO Unit and Patrol. Rafael received California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA) Narcotics Officer of the Year Award in 2012.

Sergeant Chris Sciba has been with the San Jose Police Department since 1996 and is currently assigned to the Field Training Program. Chris graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Administration of Justice. He has been assigned to the Parks Enforcement Unit, Horse Mounted Unit and the MERGE (SWAT) team. He is currently a collateral operator with the MERGE team as a sniper and explosive breacher after serving 8 years on the team full time as a team leader and unit supervisor. Chris has provided firearms and tactical instruction for local agencies and the SJPD Academy. Chris was awarded the SJPD Medal of Valor for his role in a hostage rescue crisis.

Lt. Kendra Nunes has been with the San Jose Police Department since 1992. She began her career as a Public Safety Dispatcher where she was a Communications Training Officer (CTO) and Academy instructor. After becoming a police officer in 2000, she worked assignments in patrol and as a Detective in Family Violence, Background Investigations, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Child Exploitation Detail. She conducted hundreds of investigations involving child sexual abuse and child pornography. Lt. Nunes is also a certified holistic health coach trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and attended Evergreen Valley College. She is an instructor for The Parent Project, and she regularly teaches Internet Safety, Defensive Tactics, and topics relating to nutrition, technology, and sexual assault investigations.

Michael Gaynor started his law enforcement career with the Daly City Police Department in 1979. In 1982 he left Daly City and went to the San Francisco Police Department where he retired in 2010 as an Inspector assigned to homicide. Michael currently works at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the Cold Case unit. His past assignments have been: Crime Scene Investigation, Robbery Investigations, Domestic Violence Detail, General Works Detail (person crimes), and Homicide Investigations. Michael has lectured on Death Investigation, Homicide Investigation, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Crime Scene Investigation, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Crime Scene Photography, and Officer Involved Shooting Investigations. Michael has Bachelor and Master degrees from San Jose State University in Administration of Justice.

Andrea Higgens has a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in Political Science from the University of Oregon. Andrea started as a police officer with the Redwood City Police Department in 1999 before moving to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office in 2010, where she currently works as a DA Inspector. Andrea has helped plan and implement an extremely effective countywide multidisciplinary elder protection initiative, and she has been investigating and assisting in the prosecution of elder abuse cases since 2011. Andrea’s passion for protecting elders has led her to train law enforcement officers and detectives, firefighters, dispatchers, and deputy coroners in recognizing and responding effectively to elder abuse.

Sgt. Glenn Albin works for the San Jose Police Department and has been in law enforcement since 1997. He has held a variety of assignments including, Field Training Officer, Homicide Detective,  Reserve Officer Coordinator, Canine Handler, Undercover Narcotics Investigator and Training Instructor. As a detective, Officer Albin received the Outstanding Duty Award for his work on a Capitol Murder case. He is also a graduate of the POST Master Instructor Certification Course (MICC).

Will Manion is a retired Sergeant for the San Jose Police Department. Sgt. Manion started his police career in 1989 and in 27 years of service worked the Narcotic Enforcement Team, Merge (SWAT) Team, DEA Task Force, Homicide Detective and Airport Security Sergeant. Sgt. Manion received (7) major police awards including California Post Investigator of the year award for a Homicide Case where a convicted person was exonerated of a murder he did not commit. 

Matt Irvine worked as a Detective with the Glendale, California Police Department, investigating sex crimes and family violence before transferring to Robbery/Homicide.  He moved to the San Francisco District Attorney Bureau of Investigations, assigned to public corruption investigations.  Matt reached the rank of Lieutenant, overseeing the Public Corruption Task Force (with the FBI) and the investigation of officer-involved incidents.  After retiring from sworn service, Matt joined the Portland Police Bureau as a background investigator.  He currently works as a cold case sex crimes investigator.  Matt is a graduate of Columbia University, the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the FBI National Academy.

Maureen U. Okwuosa is a senior associate with the Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC Legal Defense Practice Group. Maureen defends public sector employees in administrative investigations, critical incident investigations, and disciplinary appeals. She also represents public sector employees in grievances and in restraining order matters. Prior to joining RLS, Maureen worked as staff attorney for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, wherein she advised and counseled executive staff on all matters pertaining to labor and employment law, investigations, public employee discipline, the Public Safety Officers’ Procedural Bill of Rights Act, and labor relations. Following her time with the Department of Corrections, Maureen transitioned to the private sector where she worked at a labor law firm exclusively defending peace officers.

Julia D. Fox is a partner in the Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC Legal Defense Practice Group. Julia represents peace officers in administrative investigations and disciplinary matters. Julia has significant legal experience, including almost eight years at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney, spending much of her time there in a felony trial unit. Julia is a very experienced trial lawyer and comes from a police family: her father, brother and husband are all cops. Julia graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a degree in Government and earned her law degree from John F. Kennedy School of Law.

Nicole Pifari is a senior associate with the Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC Legal Defense Group. She represents officers in criminal investigations and prosecutions, administrative investigations, disciplinary appeals, and Brady list appeals. She also responds to critical incidents. Nicole has successfully defended criminal cases in both state and federal court. Most recently she achieved a significant victory at trial when the court exercised a rarely-used power to dismiss the case and enter a judgment of acquittal prior to sending the jury to deliberate. Her client in that case, a San Francisco deputy sheriff, was accused of excessive force. Nicole is a graduate of UC Hastings School of Law. Prior to law school, she was a police officer for the City of Missoula, Montana. During her time at Missoula PD, she was a canine officer and a member of the POA Board of Directors.

Andrew M. Ganz is an associate in the Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC Legal Defense Practice Group. Andrew defends public sector employees in criminal matters, administrative investigations, critical incident investigations, and disciplinary appeals. He also represents public sector employees in disciplinary actions and related litigation. Prior to joining RLS, Andrew worked as a prosecutor for over 13 years, during which time he handled virtually every type of criminal matter. Andrew has the distinction of being named Solano County’s first ever “Prosecutor of the Year.” In San Francisco, Andrew spent most of his time in the homicide unit, handling several complex cases. Andrew has extensive trial experience, having individually conducted well over 100 jury trials in his career. He has also written and argued countless motions, conducted many hundreds of preliminary hearings, presented cases to grand juries, handled writs and appeals, represented the State in parole hearings, and presented several trainings to lawyers, law enforcement and criminalists.

Julian Quinonez is a retired Lieutenant of 26 years with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.  Julian has served as a member of the Hostage Negotiations Team for 21 years, Patrol Watch Commander, Assistant Division Commander for Investigative Services, and Assistant Division Director for the Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.  Julian spent most of his career as a detective and supervisor in the Homicide/Major Crimes Unit.  Julian was awarded Detective of the Year and presented a no-body homicide investigation at a California Homicide Investigators Association conference. Julian received the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation certification, with a specialty in Homicide Investigation.

Lieutenant Nqui Scherry began his law enforcement career with the San Jose Police Department in 2002.  As an officer he was assigned to Patrol, the Field Training Program and he served as an Investigator in the Traffic Investigations Unit. As a Sergeant Nqui served as an investigator for the Internal Affairs unit and he supervised the Traffic Investigations Unit and the Auto Theft Unit. Nqui is currently assigned to the bureau of field operations. He is a certified Post instructor and has been teaching various classes at the SJPD Academy since 2008. Nqui holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Philip Mancini is a retired lieutenant from the Roseville Police Department and brings over 26 years of law enforcement experience at both large and medium sized agencies.  Phil has worked a variety of assignments which include Patrol, Field Training, Special Operations, and Investigations.  As an investigator generalist, Phil has worked cases ranging from fraud to homicide.  As a lieutenant, he led the Professional Standards Unit which was responsible for investigating officer complaints.  Phil is a POST Certified Master Instructor and currently works full-time as a Senior Financial Crimes Investigator for a Financial Technology start-up.

Darin DeFreece served in law enforcement for over 22 years, ultimately retiring as a Sergeant in 2015. He has held various positions (including patrol, investigations, FTO, CSI, etc.) but his final special assignment was as the detective sergeant in charge of Investigations. He has a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Darin taught at local police academies for 13 years, and as an adjunct professor for nine. His passion for instruction has led him to speak at national conferences on such topics as corporate investigations, human trafficking and investigative partnerships between the public and private sectors. He currently is the Head of Financial Crimes / BSA OFAC Officer for a national online challenger bank and lender.

Michael Montonye graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in the Administration of Justice and was hired by the San Jose Police Department in 1993.  During his career as an officer and sergeant, he worked Patrol, FTO, Street Crimes, Robbery, two tours in MERGE, Burglary and Homicide.  In January of 2012, Michael received the department’s medal valor for his role in a hostage rescue.  In February of 2019 Michael retired from the City of San Jose to become a Criminal Investigator for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.  He is currently assigned to the Homicide Unit where he works homicide investigations, cold-case homicides and officer involved incidents.  Michael has 29 years of law enforcement experience.

Nuno Tavares has been in law enforcement since 1995 and is currently a Lieutenant with the Placer County DA’s Office. Nuno has been assigned to narcotics and auto theft task forces, crimes against persons, and cold case homicide. Nuno has received numerous commendations, including Investigative Excellence awards from the International Homicide Investigators and CA Robbery Investigators Associations in addition to POST Excellence in Instruction. Nuno is a POST instructor, and an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego. He serves on boards representing Placer County Law Enforcement and California DA Investigators. Nuno holds a M.A. from Saint Mary’s College.

Sgt. Alan Soroka retired from the San Jose Police Department after a 32-year career in law enforcement. He held a variety of assignments including, Field Training Officer, Accident Reconstruction, Academy Instructor, Special Operations, and Training Instructor. Alan testified as a subject matter expert in Grand Jury proceedings of officer involved shooting inquiries. Alan provides chemical agents and weapons of mass destruction instruction to local agencies and the SJPD Academy. Alan was awarded the WDMPD Medal of Valor for his actions in a burning building during a hostage rescue incident. He is a graduate of the POST Master Instructor Certification Course.