Who We Are
Qualified and experienced
fire/explosion investigators
available 24/7
Technical Investigative Services is a division of Trial Resources Ltd., which originated in 1978. It's the only private fire investigator in South Dakota and serves clients nationwide. Our investigative team maintains professional membership in the National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Arson Investigators, National Association of Fire Investigators, and the American Society for Industrial Security.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
100+ cumulative years
of industry experience
Chris D. Rallis
President - Senior Fire Analyst
Chris Rallis is a veteran fire investigator whose decades of experience have taken him to the scenes of thousands of fire-related origin and cause investigations across numerous states nationwide. His knowledge and expertise has allowed him to direct many large loss investigations, placed him on the witness stand as an expert and consultant for fire-related subrogation and liability defense proceedings in state and federal courtrooms, and gathered audiences from the insurance industry and public sector to hear his educational training.
Chris founded Trial Resources Ltd. in 1978, rose to serve as chairman of the Fire Prevention and Safety Committee for the world’s largest membership organization for security management professionals (the American Society for Industrial Security), and still actively serves as both president and senior fire analyst at Technical Investigative Services.
Michael C. Rallis
Vice President - Senior Fire Analyst
CFI (V), CFEI, CVFI
Mike Rallis is a versatile and well-recognized expert in the field of fire and explosion origin and cause investigations who has 25+ years of experience in the field and in front of courtrooms. His proven skills and array of professional certifications from industry-leading organizations like the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) routinely place him in the position of lead investigator on fire or explosion losses ranging from a single-family dwelling to large industrial complexes. He’s also court-qualified to offer expert testimony in multiple jurisdictions.
Mike began his career with Technical Investigative Services in 1996 in a part-time capacity assisting our senior fire investigators with scene documentation, processing, evidence collection and other investigative tasks, and he has quickly climbed the career ladder since. In 1999, he joined Technical Investigative Services full-time, and he earned his first professional certification the following year.
James M. Olson
Senior Fire Analyst
CFI, MIFireE
Jim Olson is a Certified Explosives Specialist, Certified Fire Investigator and former special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who has 35+ years of experience in law enforcement and the investigation of crimes, fires and explosions.
Prior to joining Technical Investigative Services in 2018, a year after retiring as an IAAI-CFI-certified member of the ATF, Jim held positions throughout the Midwest and served well beyond as part of the ATF National Response Team (NRT) since 2003. He’s been based in Sioux Falls since 1997 and joined the ATF Explosives Program in 2001. Before that, he served in the ATF St. Paul (MN) Field Office for 8 years after starting his career as an officer in the Fargo (ND) Police Department in 1986.
Brad Sloup
Senior Fire Analyst
CFI, CFEI, CVFI, ECT
Brad Sloup is a longtime firefighter, fire protection expert and fire investigator whose extensive career has spanned the fields of volunteer fire service, law enforcement, state fire marshal’s office, a major agricultural cooperative, insurance and private investigation. He’s now a licensed private investigator in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, and he brings 20+ years of experience investigating nearly 900 fires and explosions, providing expert testimony in criminal and civil courts, and leading his peers for 8 years as Southeast Director for the Nebraska Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.
Brad has also been elected assistant chief and deputy chief for his local fire departments; advised fire departments and insurance companies; served the public as a licensed property and casualty insurance agent; managed safety and compliance for a grain, agronomy and energy business; served the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office as a fire investigator and accelerant detection canine handler, and worked as a deputy sheriff. On top of that, he holds a degree in Fire Protection & Technology and certifications from the IAAI and NAFI.
Who We Serve
Insurance Carriers
We've been employed by hundreds of insurance carriers nationwide.
Law Firms
Our client list includes leading subrogation and liability defense firms.
Manufacturers
We regularly serve a number of major manufacturers.
