SEARCH News

SEARCH Chair Jason Bright has announced the selection of Mr. Derek Veitenheimer as the organization’s next Executive Director following an extensive national recruitment process.

Mr. Veitenheimer, who previously served as Director of Research and Statistics for SEARCH, assumed the role and responsibilities of Executive Director the morning of Tuesday, July 23 at the 2024 SEARCH Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV.

Chair Bright noted that a Selection Committee of the Board unanimously selected Mr. Veitenheimer after conducting in-person candidate interviews in April 2024. The SEARCH Board unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation, after which the full SEARCH Membership Group affirmed the appointment.

“The Committee was impressed with Mr. Veitenheimer’s vision for SEARCH,” said Chair Bright, “Particularly his understanding of the organization and the needs of SEARCH Members and the Board of Directors, his experience and knowledge of programs and personnel, his commitment to effective leadership and plans for expanding the role and visibility of SEARCH in the national arena.”

As Executive Director, Mr. Veitenheimer will lead SEARCH staff in delivering programs and services to justice and public safety organizations across the United States; support the SEARCH Membership Group in achieving corporate goals and objectives; and represent SEARCH before various branches and levels of government and partner organizations.

He takes over from Mr. David J. Roberts, worked with Mr. Veitenheimer, the SEARCH Management Team, and the Board in the past several months to ensure a seamless transition. Mr. Roberts will continue to work for SEARCH until the end of the year as a contractor, supporting special projects.

Mr. Veitenheimer first joined SEARCH in April 2023 and in the past year has directed SEARCH criminal history research and analytics projects, including NIBRS and CCH analytics, and worked to enhance SEARCH’s analysis and support of NIBRS implementation.

Prior to joining SEARCH, he had 17 years of experience with the Wisconsin criminal justice system, focused on large-scale data collection programs such as Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), National Incident-Based Reporting (NIBRS), and Use-of-Force.

He was Director of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis, which supports policy and data-driven decision making through criminal justice research, analysis, and program evaluation. He led efforts to enhance and improve the functioning of the state’s UCR program and its Statistical Analysis Center, and worked with state criminal justice partners to collect and compile data for research and analysis.

Mr. Veitenheimer’s career began at the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance in positions ranging from Program and Planning Analyst, Senior IS Business Automation Specialist, and Program and Policy Supervisor. He also led the development of Wisconsin’s Traffic Stop Data Collection, Use-of-Force Data Collection, and Search Warrant Data Collection programs.