Association oversight is provided by the RIOT Board of Directors consisting of the following individuals:
Shawn Scott, Retired Detective, Round Rock Police Department
shawn.scott@robberyinvestigatorsoftexas.org
512-539-8111
Shawn is the founder and the Executive Director of Robbery Investigators of Texas. Shawn has served as a police officer for over twenty-five years. He is an honorably retired violent crimes detective from the Round Rock Police Department where he primarily conducted financial institution robbery investigations. Shawn was assigned to the FBI Central Texas Violent Crimes Task Force, within the Austin Resident Agency for almost 11 years, retiring as the Bank Robbery Coordinator for the San Antonio Division of the FBI. He is regarded as a subject matter expert on financial institution robbery prevention and preparedness conducting hundreds of training sessions with institutions across the State of Texas and beyond. Shawn has conducted his training for the Texas Banker’s Association, Fort Worth Credit Union League, Georgia Banker’s Association, Wisconsin Banker’s Association, Cornerstone Credit Union League and Sheriff’s Association of Texas. Shawn is also a former member of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas Cold Case Review Team.
In January of 2020, Shawn retired from Round Rock Police Department transitioning into private industry serving as the Director of Operations for Summit Off Duty Services until October of 2021. In October of 2021, Shawn was appointed by the Smith County, Texas Commissioner’s Court as the Interim Constable of Precinct Two. Shawn now serves as the Chief of Police for the Chapel Hill Independent School District Police Department in Tyler, Texas.
Shawn is a native Tylerite earning his master’s degree from Sam Houston State University, bachelor’s degree from LeTourneau University and an associate degree from Tyler Junior College. Shawn is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Tyler Junior College.
Eddie Haisten, Retired Sergeant, Wichita Falls Police Department
eddie.haisten@robberyinvestigatorsoftexas.org
940-636-6658
Eddie enjoyed a distinguished career with 26 years of service to the Wichita Falls Police Department. He retired as a Sgt. in October 2015.
Starting in 1989, he served in all aspects of the Patrol Section, S.W.A.T. / Tactical Unit and Training Unit. Having supervised the Special Operations Section, Training Section and Professional Standards Section, which entailed Grant Management, Research and Development, Crime Stoppers, Criminal Intelligence and Crime Analysis.
Eddie earned the following certifications and awards to include, Master Peace Officer, TCOLE Instructor License, Employment Background Investigator, TCOLE Firearms Instructor, Basic and Advanced SWAT, and Sniper certifications along with numerous merit & commendation bars.
For the past 15 years, Eddie has served as security director for a large association and more recently worked with first responder groups with their conferences and conventions. Eddie currently works at 3SI Security. 3SI’s Mission is to help create a safer world with innovative solutions and superior services that support the apprehension of criminals and the recovery of stolen goods. #SaferWorld
Eddie is active in his community and enjoys time with family, friends, and colleagues. He is an avid hunter, enjoys golf and being outdoors. Eddie and his wife Jennifer have 3 boys and one grandson, Luke.
Matt Lindemann, Retired Lieutenant, Texas Rangers
matt.lindemann@robberyinvestigatorsoftexas.org
512-497-2183
Matt retired as a lieutenant in the Texas Rangers with twenty-eight years of service. He began his law enforcement career in 1985 as a Williamson County, Texas Deputy Sheriff. In 1990, Matt graduated from the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy as a State Trooper. In 1997, he was promoted to Texas Ranger. In 2014, Matt promoted to lieutenant within the Texas Rangers. Prior to retirement, Matt was stationed in Austin where he supervised ten Rangers who covered fourteen counties in Central Texas. Matt is a founding member of Robbery Investigators of Texas and serves as Secretary.
Cindy Blackstone, Executive Vice President, Director of Retail Banking
cindy.blackstone@robberyinvestigatorsoftexas.org
903-535-2311
Cindy, a native of Lindale, Texas, and business administration graduate of LeTourneau University, began her career in Austin, accepting a position with First USA Bank in 1997. Eventually desiring to move back home to East Texas, she joined Southside Bank, headquartered in Tyler, two years later. In her 20-plus years with Southside Bank, Cindy has served in various roles, growing her career from managing the bank’s merchant services portfolio to the credit card issuing division to her most recent promotion to Chief Retail Officer—a role where she will help drive profitability through direct oversight of the bank’s 56 branches. Outside of banking, Cindy is a member of Flint Baptist Church and volunteers with several non-profit organizations, currently serving as a board member for Robbery Investigators of Texas. Cindy and her husband, Jayson, have two sons: Noah and Evan.
Brian Raynsford, Detective, Fort Worth Police Department
edward.raynsford@fortworthtexas.gov
817-944-5350
Detective Brian Raynsford joined the Fort Worth Police Department in 1990. He has worked Patrol, Gang Enforcement, Property Crimes task force and Academy instructor assignments. Detective Raynsford has been a court recognized expert in white supremacist prison gangs. Promoted to Detective in 2007; he has been assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, Violent Personal Crimes Section-Robbery Unit since 2009. Detective Raynsford holds Master Peace Officer and Instructor certifications in the State of Texas and has an Associate’s degree from Tarrant County College as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from Dallas Baptist University. Detective Raynsford was awarded RIOT Investigator of the Year in 2015.
Jeff Hill, Detective, Round Rock Police Department
jeff.hill@robberyinvestigatorsoftexas.org
512-801-4622
Jeff retired from the Round Rock Texas Police Department after almost 24 years of law enforcement service. He served in the Patrol Division as a Field Training Officer, Gang Unit Officer, and Special Investigative Unit Officer. He was a Detective in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for the last 14 years of his career. During his time in CID, Jeff served in the following units: Property Crimes, Crimes Against Persons, Domestic Crimes, and Special Investigations. Jeff was the lead detective on many high-profile cases to include murders, robberies, and officer-involved shootings.
Jeff retired with a Master Peace Officer certification through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Jeff obtained several unique certifications throughout his law enforcement career such as Force Science (Force Science Institute), Medicolegal Death Investigator (St. Louis University), and Physical Fitness Instructor (Cooper Institute) to name a few. Jeff has served on the Board of Directors for the Robbery Investigators of Texas (RIOT) since 2017.
After retiring from law enforcement, Jeff became a licensed Professional Real Estate Inspector through the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). He is the owner of Five-O Inspection Services PLLC in Bryan, Texas.
Jeff Holloway, Detective, Arlington Police Department
Jeff.holloway2@arlingtontx.gov
817-459-5739
Detective Jeff Holloway began his law enforcement career with the Arlington Police Department in October 2001. During his career, he has worked Patrol, School Resource, and has worked as a Detective in the Robbery/Gang Investigative Unit since 2014. Jeff holds a Master Peace Officer and TCOLE Instructor certifications and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Jeff teaches report writing to new recruits at the Arlington Police Academy as well as assists in scenario-based training.
Mario Verna, FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Dallas Violent Crime Task Force
mrverna@fbi.gov
972-559-5128
FBI Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Mario Verna received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in 1993. Upon graduation, SSA Verna was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. SSA Verna attended Washburn University School of Law and received a Juris Doctorate in 1996. SSA Verna joined the FBI in March 2005. Upon graduation from the FBI Academy, SSA Verna was assigned to work Counterterrorism matters in the Kansas City Division.
In 2008, SSA Verna transferred to the Dallas Division and was assigned to work Counterterrorism. In 2011, SSA Verna deployed to Afghanistan to support the FBI’s Counterterrorism mission. Subsequently, SSA Verna was assigned to the Violent Crime Task Force and fugitive task force.
SSA Verna served as the supervisor for the FBI Dallas Violent Crime Task Force and as the Program Coordinator for all Dallas Division violent crime matters from 2017 through 2022. In April 2022, SSA Verna became the supervisor for the FBI Dallas Critical Incident Response Team.
SSA Verna served on the FBI Kansas City and FBI Dallas SWAT teams. SSA Verna is a tactical instructor, firearms instructor, and ALERRT certified instructor. Additionally, SSA Verna serves as a Dallas Division Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) coordinator and the Dallas Division BAU Program Manager SSA.
David Helms, Sergeant, Houston Police Department
Sergeant David Helms grew up in Deer Park, New York. After relocating to Houston in 2005 David graduated from the Houston Police Department Academy in 2006. He was assigned to a tactical unit from 2007-2012. He promoted to sergeant of police in 2012 where he was assigned to the Robbery Division. In 2016 he was selected to join FBI Violent Crime Task Force. David has become the subject matter expert on bank robbery and armored car robberies, having responded to more than 300 robbery incidents.
Jeremy Costlow, Vice President of Customer Service, Summit Off Duty Services
Jeremy Costlow is Vice President, Customer Experience for Summit Off Duty Services, a subsidiary of Athos Group launched in 2021. He has been with Athos Group for more than seven years, previously serving as President, Athos Group Security since 2018 prior to the launch and his transition to Summit.
Jeremy joined Athos in 2013 to lead its client services team after a series of successful roles in various corporations; his engaging personality and tireless focus on building effective teams has yielded positive results and career advancement.
Prior to Athos, Jeremy served as Vice President of Texas Bank, where he provided executive leadership oversight in multiple capacities including marketing, lending, and security operations. Jeremy worked closely with customers to meet their individual needs, supporting a wide-range of clients from local consumers to regional agricultural enterprises as well as arranging financing for multi-million-dollar commercial shopping centers.
Before his work with Texas Bank, Jeremy was General Manager of a regional multi-branch company responsible for more than $30 million in annual sales. He provided leadership and coaching through nearly a decade of mentoring teams, ranging from beginning sales agents to experienced veterans.
Jeremy is valued community leader whose passions include hanging with his family & friends, hunting, golf, and football. Jeremy and his wife have four children, and are active members of Flint Baptist Church.