Originally published on LinkedIn · February 2016.
I am developing a training program designed to introduce veteran street police officers to cyber investigations and fraud investigations with a digital component. And I am asking for input from professionals on what single topic would be most valuable to cover in a 50-minute session.
The Design Philosophy
This is not a single 50-minute course. It is a modular program — multiple 50-minute segments, each covering one piece. The goal is not to create a certified cyber investigator in one sitting. The goal is to inspire further education on each topic. To plant a seed. To give a veteran officer with strong instincts a framework for thinking about crime that has an electronic nexus.
That word — “nexus” — is important. I am using “cyber” broadly, not narrowly. We are not just talking about network intrusions. We are talking about any crime where an electronic component is present — fraud, stalking, theft, exploitation. That is the scope.
Who This Is For
- Veteran street police officers exploring a transition into cyber/digital investigations
- Military and law enforcement professionals transitioning to private sector security roles
- Security professionals who want to understand the intersection of their physical security background with digital crime
Why a Street Cop Is Already Partway There
The instincts of a good street cop — reading people, preserving chain of custody, documenting precisely, understanding criminal motivation — translate directly to investigative work with a digital component. The tools change. The platforms change. The fundamental investigative mindset transfers remarkably well.
After multiple sessions over two days, the goal is for participants to understand practical cyber and fraud investigative aspects with tools, knowledge, and the beginning of wisdom about how to pursue digital evidence. Not expertise. A foundation.
I welcome input from professionals on what single topic matters most in that first 50 minutes. What would you start with?