Investigative Skills
Investigating a variety of crimes is a vital component of police work. Whether it’s drug related, sexual abuse, child abuse, gangs, narcotics enforcement, animal abuse, or even cryptocurrency crimes, our courses can increase your investigative skills for more successful outcomes.
| Course Name | Course Description | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Current Drug Trends | Illicit drug and alcohol use in the United States is a significant cause for concern. While many illicit substances are well-known, there are many newer synthetics that pose a risk to law enforcement. Adding yet an additional layer to the complicated and challenging nature of police work are persons with mental illness who may be abusing alcohol and illicit substances. This course will provide learners with the knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the current and emerging drug trends and how mental illness is impacted by drugs and alcohol. | 2h |
| Cyberstalking | In recent years, stalkers have taken advantage of the anonymity of the Internet to commit crimes. This has added a new dimension because it is difficult for victims of cyberstalking, as well as law enforcement, to discern the identity of the stalker. Cyberstalking makes the fear more palpable and prosecution more challenging. This course will discuss the basics, relevant laws, challenges, and practical solutions for cyberstalking cases. | 1h |
| Evidence Collection, Control, and Storage – NEW! | This course on evidence management in law enforcement covers critical aspects of evidence collection, control, and storage. Designed for law enforcement professionals, the course delves into best practices for handling various types of evidence – physical, biological, and digital. You will learn the importance of securing crime scenes, detailed methods for collecting and preserving different evidence types, and maintaining proper documentation and chain of custody. The course emphasizes the unique nature of each crime scene and the necessity of a methodical, detail-oriented approach to evidence collection. Additionally, it underscores the importance of adhering to agency-specific policies and legal standards, balancing the technical aspects of evidence handling with critical thinking and ethical considerations. | 1h |
| Eyewitness Evidence and Identification – 3286 TCOLE | Eyewitness evidence is critical to the apprehension and prosecution of criminals. Since 1989, DNA evidence has been used to exonerate nearly 300 individuals that were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Of those, approximately 70% were convicted on evidence that included inaccurate and faulty eyewitness identifications. Research has proven that a number of small changes to the identification process will help improve the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness identification, ensuring that the highest quality of eyewitness evidence is collected and preserved. | 8h |
| Evidence Collection, Control, and Storage | If you are the first responder on the scene of a crime, you are responsible for the integrity of that crime scene and the evidence contained there. If the integrity of the crime scene becomes compromised, so potentially does the evidence collected from it, and if this happens, the ability for justice to be served is compromised as well, because the truth of what happened at any crime scene lies in the evidence. While the role of the attorneys, the judge and the jury are all important in the courtroom, it is ultimately the quality of the evidence that is going to prove the guilt or innocence of the alleged perpetrator. In this course, the learner will gain valuable insights into appropriate evidence collection practices, as well as what not to do at the crime scene and how to protect the integrity of the crime scene so that evidence is not altered or destroyed. | 1h |
| Financial Crimes | This four-hour course is designed to enhance your ability to identify the vulnerabilities, as well as understand the regulatory policies that serve to limit the number of financial crimes. | 4h |
| Handling Robbery Calls | According to an FBI study, 26% of all local homicides in the US can be directly related to robberies. Accordingly, law enforcement officers need to take every robbery call seriously, both for their own safety and the safety and well-being of the victims. Good community policing efforts will help officers identify the most likely robbery targets in their patrol area, giving them the opportunity to work with business owners and managers to minimize the risk. In this course, you will learn methods for safely approaching the robbery scene, apprehending suspects, and securing the crime scene. | 1h |
| Human Trafficking 101 | Current research indicates that many law enforcement agencies in the United States have encountered some form of human trafficking or contacted victims through routine work and investigations into other crimes. This comprehensive course is designed to provide an understanding of human trafficking, a global issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It is ideal for students, professionals, advocates, plus anyone interested in human rights, law enforcement, international relations, and social work.
The course aims to equip learners with a fundamental understanding of the complexities surrounding human trafficking, its root causes, and its devastating impacts on individuals. It will explore topics such as the different forms of human trafficking, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and domestic servitude, and the methods used by traffickers to control and exploit their victims. This course also explores strategies for victim identification and support and emphasizes the importance of public education in preventing human trafficking. |
1h |
| Identity Theft Crimes | In this three-hour course, we will discuss the identity theft problem and factors which increase the risk of identity theft. | 3h |
| Interviews and Interrogations | Interviews and interrogations are two ways to formally solicit information from witnesses and suspects. A properly conducted interview or interrogation can often be the difference between solving and successfully prosecuting a case and not. An investigator should be aware of the distinctions between interviews and interrogations, as well as the best methods for eliciting information from a subject. In this course, learners will explore ways to question interviewees and judge the truthfulness of their responses. This course will also cover the distinctions between interviews and interrogations and provide methods for conducting them effectively. | 1h |
| Introduction to Rape Crisis – NEW! | Sexual assault is a crime that disproportionately harms women, girls, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) communities in the United States. To ensure a more successful intervention when law enforcement officers encounter victims who have suffered this type of crime, they must first familiarize themselves with a basic understanding of what rape crisis is in general. Part of the investigation process also includes determining the manner of death. This course will provide law enforcement officers with a foundational knowledge of the various death classifications, roles, and responsibilities and the evidence collection process. | 1h |
| Investigating Child Abuse and Neglect | This course is designed to help officers understand the child abuse problem and factors that increase the risk of abuse. The intent of this course is to provide officers who respond to this type of crime with information that will ensure consistency in handling child abuse cases. In addition, the course is designed to help law enforcement understand the importance of developing procedures and protocols and ways to work with other professionals to ensure the needs of the children are met. | 2h |
| Investigating Impaired Driving – NEW! | Is there cause to stop a vehicle? What is the driver’s state of sobriety? Should the driver be released or arrested? Officers in the traffic division or patrolling our roadways must answer these critical questions within a matter of minutes. This 1-hour course will review the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) criteria which aid officers in correctly answering these key questions when investigating impaired driving. | 1h |
| Law Enforcement Intelligence | In this four-hour Law Enforcement Intelligence course, we will explore why we do what we do, and how we can change what we do for the better of our agency. | 4h |
| Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) | This two-hour course ensures that if a domestic violence case is at hand, law enforcement officers will be well versed and ready to properly implement the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). | 2h |
| Recognizing and Responding to Domestic Violence – NEW! | Recognizing and Responding to Domestic Violence is an in-depth and comprehensive course designed for law enforcement officers. The course aims to enhance the understanding of domestic violence – its types, signs, and impacts, along with the legal and ethical considerations involved. It provides officers with the necessary knowledge to effectively identify and respond to such incidents, thereby facilitating a safer environment for victims and the community. | 1h |
| Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) | This five-hour course instructs the actions and protocols one must take when involved in a Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation. | 5h |
| Suicide Investigation for Law Enforcement Investigators | Every law enforcement investigator will be called upon to investigate a suicide during their career. This course will explore the roles and responsibilities of a law enforcement investigator in a suicide investigation. Learners will also be presented with information that is essential to their development of investigative skills considering the unique legal, procedural, and forensic aspects of a suicide investigation conducted by a law enforcement investigator. | 1h |
| Using Social Media for Investigations – NEW! | This comprehensive course delves into the multifaceted role of social media in law enforcement investigations. It addresses the dual nature of social media as both a tool for connection and a platform for various cybercrimes. The course covers the intricacies of cyber threats like malware, phishing, cyberstalking, fraud, and radicalization. Participants will learn about the legal considerations surrounding social media investigations, including federal laws, procedures for subpoenas and warrants, and recent legal updates affecting digital evidence gathering. Key topics include the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, the Stored Communications Act, geofence warrants, and the balance between investigative needs and privacy rights. This course is designed to equip law enforcement professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use social media in their investigations while adhering to legal and ethical standards. | 1h |
| Virtual Tour of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children | Virtual Tour of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children | 15m |
| Naloxone | In October 2017, the United States declared the overuse of opioids as a public health crisis. In fact, the CDC estimates that more than 90 Americans die from opioid overdoses every day. Naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioid overdoses, has become first responders’ number one tool in saving the lives of anyone who has overdosed on opioids. In this course, learners will discover the physiological and psychological effects of opioid addiction and how to administer Naloxone in the event of an overdose. | 1h |
| Eyewitness Evidence and Identification -3286 TCOLE | Eyewitness evidence is critical to the apprehension and prosecution of criminals. Since 1989, DNA evidence has been used to exonerate nearly 300 individuals that were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Of those, approximately 70% were convicted on evidence that included inaccurate and faulty eyewitness identifications. Research has proven that a number of small changes to the identification process will help improve the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness identification, ensuring that the highest quality of eyewitness evidence is collected and preserved. | 8h |