James Smith
Service-disabled veteran. Former police officer and crime scene technician. Over 20 years of North Country law enforcement experience. Founder of Post Trauma Scene Decon.
The Person Behind the Company
James Smith spent more than 20 years as a police officer and crime scene technician in North Country, New York — the same region where Post Trauma Scene Decon operates today. In that time he processed hundreds of trauma scenes: deaths, suicides, homicides, accidents, and the full range of situations that require careful documentation, professional handling, and a steady hand in the presence of grief.
He also served as a member of the New York State Police Employee Assistance Program, where he received formal training in trauma-informed communication — how to speak with people who have just experienced sudden, violent, or unexpected loss. That background is not something that appears on a certification list. It shapes how every call to Post Trauma Scene Decon is handled.
James is a service-disabled veteran. He built this company as a second career — one rooted in the same values that defined his first: service, accountability, and getting the job done right regardless of how hard it is.
When you call Post Trauma Scene Decon, you are often speaking directly with James. He is not a dispatcher. He is not a salesperson. He is the person who will assess your situation, explain exactly what needs to happen, and in most cases be part of the team that does the work.
Background & Experience
Police Officer & Crime Scene Technician
James began his law enforcement career in North Country, New York — the same communities he serves today. As a police officer and certified crime scene technician, he spent over two decades documenting, photographing, and processing scenes involving trauma, death, homicide, and biohazard contamination. That work gave him a technical foundation that no classroom alone can provide.
Employee Assistance Program — NYS Police
James served as an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) member with the New York State Police, where he received specific training in trauma-informed communication — including how to speak with families who have just experienced sudden loss. That experience informs every client interaction at Post Trauma Scene Decon. When someone calls in crisis, James understands both sides of the door.
A Need North Country Families Deserved to Have Met
Throughout his law enforcement career, James repeatedly witnessed the same problem: after the police finished their work and left a scene, families were often on their own. There was no professional, certified, compassionate local option for what came next. Families were left to clean trauma scenes themselves, hire general cleaning companies without the training or credentials for the work, or simply close a door and try to forget. That gap is why Post Trauma Scene Decon exists.
Post Trauma Scene Decon Founded
After leaving active law enforcement, James became certified in crime scene cleanup, death and suicide cleaning, bioremediation, drug lab cleaning, and forensic cleaning — then founded Post Trauma Scene Decon in Massena, NY. The company was built specifically to fill the void he had watched North Country families navigate for over two decades.
VETCON Business Plan Competition Winner
Post Trauma Scene Decon won the VETCON Business Plan Competition — independent validation that the company is built on a sound foundation with a credible market, clear financial model, and long-term viability as a North Country business.
BBB Torch Award for Ethics
Post Trauma Scene Decon was recognized with the BBB Torch Award for Ethics — one of the most prestigious business ethics awards in North America. For a company operating in an industry where vulnerable people depend entirely on the integrity of the provider, this recognition carries particular weight.
Credentials & Certifications
Every certification James holds is current and actively maintained. This is not a credential list assembled for marketing — it reflects the legal and professional requirements of doing this work correctly.
Law Enforcement & Crime Scene
- 20+ years as a police officer and crime scene technician
- Former Employee Assistance Program (EAP) member — NYS Police
- Trained in trauma-informed communication with grieving families
- Extensive hands-on experience processing and documenting trauma, death, and crime scenes
Biohazard & Remediation Certifications
- Crime scene cleanup certification
- Death and suicide scene cleaning certification
- Bioremediation certification
- Drug lab cleaning certification
- Forensic cleaning certification
- Trauma scene decontamination certification
- IICRC certified (mold remediation, odor control)
- Hazmat handling certification
Regulatory Compliance
- NYS Department of Labor — biohazard remediation certified
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation — debris transport certified
- NYS mold remediation licensed
- OSHA bloodborne pathogens training — current
- OSHA HazCom / PPE training — current
Business Certifications
- SDVOB — Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (NYS OGS)
- HUBZone certified small business (U.S. SBA)
- Veteran-owned business verified (U.S. VA / SBA)
- BBB accredited — 2025 Torch Award for Ethics recipient
- ERCA member — Environmental Remediation Contractors Association
- Warrior Rising vetrepreneur
- 2024 VETCON Business Plan Competition winner
How James Approaches Every Job
The Work Comes First
James does not subcontract and does not cut corners. The job is done to IICRC and OSHA standards on every site — residential, commercial, or government.
Speed Is Not an Excuse
Fast response does not mean rushed work. James is available 24/7 because trauma doesn't follow business hours — and because the right response time genuinely matters for both safety and property damage.
Honesty Over Sales
If a situation does not require professional remediation, James will tell you. If it does, he will explain exactly what it involves and why — before the work starts.
Speak Directly With James
When you call Post Trauma Scene Decon, there is a good chance you will speak with the founder. No call center, no script — just a straight conversation with someone who has seen what you are dealing with and knows how to handle it.