Matthew Stegner

Matthew (Matt) Stegner is a retired Senior Investigator with the New York State Police and the founder of Stegner Consulting & Training. He has more than 26 years of combined experience in law enforcement, investigations, victim-centered practice, and specialized training delivery. His last decade of service included several specialized assignments within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. For three years, Matt supervised felony-level investigations in Erie County, New York, where he led a specialized unit focused on child exploitation and worked in partnership with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Prior to that, he was assigned to the Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit, where he led investigations involving college students across 26 campuses and worked closely with Title IX partners, campus police, and advocacy programs to strengthen institutional responses to sexual violence.

Before joining the New York State Police, Matt began his law enforcement career with the Atlanta Police Department in 1998, where he served as a patrolman and was selected as a finalist for Officer of the Year. Over the course of his career, he developed expertise in sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, forensic interviewing, suspect interviewing, and trauma-informed policing. Matt designed and instructed the New York State Police Sexual Assault Investigation module and served as lead instructor for the NYSP Sexual Assault Seminar.

Matt is a Master Instructor certified by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and is also an IADLEST Nationally Certified Instructor, a credential that recognizes high standards in curriculum design, instructional competency, and evidence-based training delivery. Since retiring, Matt has trained nationally and internationally and is recognized as a subject matter expert on sexual assault, child abuse, child exploitation, domestic violence, and trauma-informed leadership. His consulting work supports law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, child advocacy centers, advocacy programs, and multidisciplinary teams across the country.

Throughout his career, Matt has been recognized with numerous awards, including five-time Trooper of the Year (Troop T – SP Buffalo), two-time Investigator of the Year (Troop A), Supervisor of the Year (Troop A BCI), the FBI N-DEx Award, the NYSP Superintendent’s Commendation, and the Erie County Law Enforcement Foundation Career Achievement Award.

Professional Experience

• Founder, Stegner Consulting & Training (2022–Present)

• Senior Investigator, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (2005–2022)

• Investigator & Trooper, New York State Police (2002–2005)

• Patrolman, Atlanta Police Department, GA (1998–2002)

• Adjunct Instructor / National Trainer, Law Enforcement & CAC Communities (2010–Present)

Education

• M.S., Criminal Justice – University at Albany

• B.S., Criminal Justice – Hilbert College

• A.S., Criminal Justice – Erie Community College