Cold Case Foundation
  • Home
    • The Cold Case Foundation Mission
    • Behind the Brand
    • Videos
  • THE TEAM
    • EXECUTIVE TEAM >
      • Gregory M. Cooper - Executive Director
      • Dean Jackson - Deputy Executive Director
      • John E. Douglas - Chairman Emeritus
    • Executive Support Team >
      • Francine Bardole - Director of Forensic Sciences
      • Dana Boss - Analyst Supervisor
      • AJ Jackson - Creative Director
      • Dr. Lawrence J. Simon - Director of Research
      • Chris McDonough - Law Enforcement Relations
      • James Patrick - Director of Intelligence
      • Robert E. Taylor, Jr. - Director of Training
      • Cathie Vallas-McKinzie - Case Management Supervisor
      • James L. Vance - Communication Specialist
    • INVESTIGATIVE TEAM
    • FORENSIC TEAM
    • Investigative Support Services
  • Training
    • Training Schedule
  • Law Enforcement
    • Case Study
    • Volunteer Application
    • Funding & Resources
    • Victimization
  • Prevention
    • Stress Reduction >
      • Suicide Prevention
      • Terminology
    • Resources
  • Memorial
  • Our Network
    • Grief & Hope
    • Contribute
    • Testimonials
  • Partners
  • The Vault
  • Contact
    • MEDIA INQUIRIES
Picture

Colleen Shinn 

Dallas Police Homicide Detective (Retired)
EXPERIENCE
Served the citizens of Dallas, Texas, from 1988 to 2016 as a Police Officer, Senior Corporal and a Detective.
  • February 1988 hired by Dallas Police Department  
  • Worked as a Public Service Officer and Patrol Officer
  • Promoted to Senior Corporal in July 1993
 
  Specialized Patrol Positions Held
 
Neighborhood Liaison Officer
​

Worked in conjunction with the community, attended and held meetings to address citizen concerns and crime trends, assisted in planning community events to better police and citizen relationships.
Deployment
Undercover surveillance operations to catch criminals in the act and to locate missing and wanted persons. (During this time, I assisted in identifying a pedophile that had been stalking a child, which later resulted in the saving of another abducted child’s life.

February 1996 to November 2002 transferred to Crimes Against Persons Sexual Assault Division
Conducted investigations including Sexual Assaults, Indecent Exposures, Stalking’s, and False Allegations, including high profile cases of professional athletes and television personalities, new, and multiple serial rapists.

November 2002 to October 2004             Crimes Against Persons                 Assaults Detective
                Conducted Assault Investigations from Class C to Felony Assaults. 

October 2004 to August 2016                 Crimes Against Persons                 Homicide Detective
Lead Detective on over 100 cases, and assisted on over 300 others.
 Conducted Death Investigations including High Profile Homicides, Multi-Victim Murders, Cold Cases, Suicides and Staged Suicide scenes, Unexplained, Accidental and Natural Deaths.
  • Experienced in Court Testimony, and Civil depositions resulting in convictions.
  • Assisted with creating and teaching Dallas Police double-blind line up procedure. 
  • Worked for 3 years on two missing persons cold cases, determined the need for a joint investigation with Social Security Administration, resulting in a federal fraud conviction and two pending capital murder cases in which the investigation revealed the missing person’s remains are unrecoverable.​
​August 2016 to November 2016                     Personnel                           Background Investigator
Conducted Background investigations on Civilian and Sworn Applicants

Major Accomplishments & Awards
  • Attendance Award
  • Certified Master Peace Officer
  • Certificate of Merit Awards
  • Unit Certificate of Merit Award
  • Numerous Internal and External Commendations
  • 25 Year Safe Driving Award
  • Advanced Certificate from the Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation
  • Advanced Certificate from SCAN Statement Analysis Schools
  • Numerous Certificate of Completions from Investigative Schools and Seminars including Advanced Practical Homicide Investigation, and interrogation Courses
  • No sustained IAD investigations or complaints

​Personal Mission
During my career, I have remained vigilant to find the truth thru investigations, no matter what it is. Thru my 20 plus years as an investigator, I have found accused persons innocent, put guilty people in prison, determined crimes were committed when it appeared they weren’t, and determined crimes were committed when it appeared it was .With all that I have accomplished, I would never had been successful in my career without the support of my family, the outstanding men and women of the Dallas Police Department, other Law Enforcement Agencies, and the citizens of Dallas who were willing to be forthcoming for justice.  It is for this reason I am excited to be a part of the Cold Case Foundation, and all that it represents.

Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Western New Mexico University- 1987
Graduate of Western New Mexico Police Academy- 1987
                        
© 2023, Cold Case Foundation Inc. - 501(c)(3)
  • Home
    • The Cold Case Foundation Mission
    • Behind the Brand
    • Videos
  • THE TEAM
    • EXECUTIVE TEAM >
      • Gregory M. Cooper - Executive Director
      • Dean Jackson - Deputy Executive Director
      • John E. Douglas - Chairman Emeritus
    • Executive Support Team >
      • Francine Bardole - Director of Forensic Sciences
      • Dana Boss - Analyst Supervisor
      • AJ Jackson - Creative Director
      • Dr. Lawrence J. Simon - Director of Research
      • Chris McDonough - Law Enforcement Relations
      • James Patrick - Director of Intelligence
      • Robert E. Taylor, Jr. - Director of Training
      • Cathie Vallas-McKinzie - Case Management Supervisor
      • James L. Vance - Communication Specialist
    • INVESTIGATIVE TEAM
    • FORENSIC TEAM
    • Investigative Support Services
  • Training
    • Training Schedule
  • Law Enforcement
    • Case Study
    • Volunteer Application
    • Funding & Resources
    • Victimization
  • Prevention
    • Stress Reduction >
      • Suicide Prevention
      • Terminology
    • Resources
  • Memorial
  • Our Network
    • Grief & Hope
    • Contribute
    • Testimonials
  • Partners
  • The Vault
  • Contact
    • MEDIA INQUIRIES