Our Investigative Partners
Meet Our Investigative Partners
Funds raised by NILJ are used to contract investigative services, oversight, and case management by our Investigative Partners,
led by Detective Mark Pucci.
To learn more about our board of directors and advisory council, click here.
Mark Pucci
Mark Pucci (NILJ Founder/Lead Investigative Partner) is a highly decorated, retired NYPD Detective. Mark's investigative experience while working for the New York City Police Department encompassed all facets of law enforcement from Vice, Narcotics, Illegal Firearms, Gangs, and other violent crime related investigations, to Special Operations Division, city-wide major-crime pattern identification, and the apprehension of many of the city's most wanted criminals.
Mark's extensive undercover, observational surveillance and covert / special operations' training and experience during his tenure as a Detective with the NYPD are considered by many to be unparalleled in the private sector. Since Mark's retirement from the NYPD and re-entry into private sector investigations, Mark has worked with several large scale National & International Investigative Firms in the capacity of, Executive Vice President, Chief Investigator, Chief Compliance Officer and National / International Investigative Consultant.
Throughout his career in the private sector, Mark has successfully investigated and supervised the completion of thousands of cases in a wide array of investigative practices, (many of which have garnered "national and international" media coverage and attention), encompassing, civil / criminal law, accidental / wrongful deaths, homicides, missing persons, child abductions, cold cases, white collar, corporate, and cyber-crimes, insurance defense, matrimonial practice and a passionate personal specialty in "Adoption-Adoptee Location" (birth-parents/children/siblings); and the "identification, location and reunification", of those who desire to be reunited.
William Simon
William Simon (Volunteer) is both a decorated 30-year military veteran, as well as a 25-year veteran Detective (retired), who was assigned to the NYPD’s esteemed, Cold-Case Homicide Unit.
Bill graduated in the top 5% of his leadership class at the United States Army Battle Staff School. Throughout his multiple deployments and forward combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bill planned and coordinated numerous battle operations within his Division Staff. Additionally, Bill planned collaborative operations with foreign nations, and coordinated disaster relief efforts within the United States. In recognition of Bill’s commitment to excellence, he was awarded a myriad of citations and medals including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Through his 25-year career with the NYPD, Bill investigated a plethora of challenging and difficult cases, from combating drug and gang violence which plagued the streets of New York City as a plain-clothes anti-crime unit officer, to ascending to be assigned as a 70th Precinct Squad Detective. While working in the 70th Precinct Detective Squad, Bill and his team were responsible for solving over thirty (30) homicides. Bill was then given the distinct honor of being promoted into the NYPD’s prestigious Cold Case Homicide Unit.
While assigned to the Cold Case Squad, Bill investigated and solved some of New York’s oldest and oftentimes forgotten murder cases and victims. During his tenure in the Cold Case Squad, Bill was personally responsible for solving sixteen (16) Cold Case Homicides, all of which had occurred more twenty (20) years prior, with the oldest case he solved having been committed in 1980.
Throughout his distinguished careers, in the Military and the NYPD, Bill has brought comfort, closure, and justice to countless grieving families and loved ones. In Bill’s foray into Private Investigation, he brings with him his tremendous experience, exceptional skill set, and proven performance record, which will bring untold benefits to each investigation.
Hal Sherman
Hal Sherman (Volunteer) is a retired First Grade NYPD Detective. After working in the Patrol and Narcotics Division, Hal spent 15 years working in the NYPD’s prestigious Crime Scene Unit. His work encompassed the documentation, collection, and preservation of all types of physical evidence. His training includes FBI Shooting Crime Scene Reconstruction, FBI Exhumation of Human Remains, FBI Post Blast Explosion Course, and NYC OCME Bloodstain Pattern documentation.
While with the NYPD, Hal responded / investigated in excess of 2,000 crime scenes, including over 1,300 homicides scenes. Some notable cases Hal investigated and supervised were the 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center Attacks; the Happyland Social Club fire, where 87 people perished; and the Wendy’s Massacre, where 7 people were shot, including 5 fatalities which were located in the basement of the establishment. The Wendy’s case is historically noted as the last death penalty eligible case in NYS before the legislation was subsequently changed.
During his tenure with the NYPD, Hal traveled and worked in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, England, and Israel conducting / engaged in training, instructing, or testifying. Post 9/11, Hal was selected and assigned to the newly formed Bio-Terrorism Task Force, after the NYC Anthrax Attacks in 2001.
Hal presently works as an independent consultant on criminal and civil cases worldwide. He is also currently assisting in the formulation and presentation of a course in the Kurdish Region of Iraq, on the importance of proper documentation and collection of physical evidence and maintaining of chain of custody of evidence in war crimes.