Justin Shelden

Justin Shelden is an actor, firearms instructor, and technical advisor with expertise in law enforcement history, firearms of all types, and old west history and wardrobe. Based in the Los Angeles area, Justin is a twenty plus year veteran of law enforcement, having worked for municipal, county, and federal law enforcement agencies. He has a wealth of experience both as a police officer on patrol, and as a correctional officer in jails and prisons. His specialized work experience including tactical teams (SWAT), gang unit officer, investigations, defensive tactics instructor, field training officer, and firearms instructor make him knowledgeable on a wide variety of law enforcement techniques and technologies used over the past two decades. He has also worked with police K-9s and his work as a civilian police officer on a military base familiarized him with all the branches of the United States armed services. Justin's specific emphasis on the history of the Los Angeles police department is a result of his research as a member of the "Vintage L.A. Coppers", a group of law enforcement historians that do consulting, and educational and authentic historical presentations specifically about the LAPD's history from the 1940's through the 1960's. He has also helped restore police artifacts for exhibits at the Los Angeles Police museum and sourced and restored authentic historical artifacts for use in educational presentations and film projects. His interest in American old west history has been a passion for over twenty five years since he began researching authentic frontier costuming, weapons and equipment as a result of his work doing living history and performances at the world famous Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas. Justin developed a love of performing by doing improvisational acting, and choreographing and performing stunt fights in front of a live audience. Justin's interest in authentic, first person portrayals of historical figures has also included portraying an 1870's soldier for the Kansas State Historical Society at Fort Hays historic site, making replicas of American Indian weapons and clothing, and reenacting the American Civil War as an authentic Union infantryman. These experiences taught Justin the value of research and importance of authenticity when curating historic artifacts and creating and wearing authentic reproduction wardrobe items. An experienced horseman with a background as a working cowboy and horse trainer, Justin has portrayed mounted historical figures, including shooting from horseback. Justin also has a background in theater. As a high school student he had the lead roles in several multi-act plays, as well as competing and winning multiple awards in forensics tournaments. This experience resulted in accepting a college scholarship for a performing arts program where Justin learned set design, set construction and decorating, and played one of the lead roles in a college production of a classic Agatha Christie play. On set film experience includes work on student film, documentary, commercial, and major motion pictures. With a unique combination of; work experience as a law enforcement professional, background as a historian and researcher, and experience as an actor on stage and film, Justin is a versatile asset to any type of production, both in front of the camera, and behind the scenes.