Matthew Stegner is a retired Senior Investigator from the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, where he dedicated many years to serving and protecting the community. His career began in 1998 as a patrolman with the City of Atlanta Police Department, and in 2002, he joined the New York State Police. Over his 22 years there, he progressed from being a trooper to an investigator and eventually a Senior Investigator.
Throughout his career, Matthew handled various felony investigations, focusing on child exploitation, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. He worked closely with crime victim advocates to conduct trauma-informed interviews, emphasizing a compassionate approach to law enforcement.
Matthew played a significant role in designing the Sexual Assault Investigations training module for the New York State Police and serves as the lead instructor for the annual New York State Police Sexual Assault Seminar. His contributions to the field have been recognized with awards such as Trooper of the Year, Investigator of the Year, Special Recognition Investigator, and Supervisor of the Year by the New York State Police.
He holds an Associate’s degree from Erie Community College, a Bachelor’s degree from Hilbert College, and a Master’s Degree from the University at Albany, all in criminal justice.
Now retired from active duty, Matthew focuses on sharing his knowledge and experience through training and presentations, both nationally and internationally, helping others to improve their approach to criminal investigations and victim support.