Franklin County Public Safety Training Center
3075 Molly Pitcher Highway
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Length of Seminar: 3 Days
Instructor: Wayne Sheppard
Statement of Fact:
As with anything new, a street officer or new detective assigned a criminal investigation can find it to be a bit intimidating. The responsibilities associated with an investigation can be quite overwhelming. What to do, what not to do, when to do it, whom to contact, and “am I doing things correctly” run through the mind of the police professional constantly. Moreover, the constant scrutiny by others of their respective “work product” adds to the stress of it all. The adage of “Baptism by Fire” where these professionals assume these responsibilities with little or no training is unfortunately the norm, not the exception. Hence, obtaining training in the various components of what constitutes a proper investigation is of utmost importance. Victims, families of victims, and society at large are counting on the police professional to do the right thing. Failure is simply not an option for the professional police officer.
Course Overview:
The design of this course of instruction is to enhance the capabilities of a street patrol officer and a new detective, so they are prepared when their respective responsibilities require them to investigate a criminal offense. To accomplish this goal, an investigative framework will be provided from which an all-encompassing and most intrusive criminal investigative effort can be properly initiated and conducted through to its completion. Multiple facets of a criminal investigation that are foundational in nature will be brought forth and explored in this course of instruction. Additionally, each participant will be provided with investigative protocols in the form of action plans and investigative checklists to assist them in their investigations. Throughout this course, participants will be engaged through an interactive classroom setting in which actual criminal cases are analyzed to provide a practical application in anticipation of implementation of an investigation in the field.
Topics Covered:
• Societal Expectations of Policing
• Multidisciplinary Team Approach
• The Initial Response Stemming from Police Encounters or Consolidated Dispatching
• Knowing the Elements of the Offense – An Absolute Must in Investigations
• Rules of Evidence Involving Search and Seizure
• Gathering Information Without Biases or Prejudices
• Components of Property Crime and Crimes Against Persons Investigations
• Behavioral and Forensic Crime Scene Applications – A Diphasic Approach
• Utilization of Investigative Checklists
• Application of Victim and Suspect Background Information
• Formulation of Investigative Strategies
• Formulation of Interview Strategies
• Miranda Warnings – To Do or Not to Do?
• Police Report Writing
• Case Management Tools
• Collaboration with Prosecutors – Key to Convictions
• Prosecutorial Considerations
• Defense Issues
• Next Steps in Personal Career Development
Instructor Bio:
Mr. Sheppard provides assistance and case consultations on criminal investigations on a national and international basis. The specialized aid encompasses case reviews, case assessments, behavioral analysis of violent crime, development of victimology, victim and offender risk assessments, criminal case management, developing behaviorally based interviewing techniques and strategies, the application of offender typologies, etcetera aimed at enhancing solvability factors and case resolution. Additionally, Mr. Sheppard supplies consultations in threat assessments for persons and facilities subject to violent criminal behavior. Moreover, Mr. Sheppard supplies consultative services for the prosecution and defense teams in the preparation and litigation of criminal cases.
Mr. Sheppard is a national and international lecturer and trainer for numerous disciplines. He provides training and lecturing on: violent crime and death investigations, violent crime analysis, crime scene assessments, offender dichotomies and typologies, case management, missing and abducted children incidents, missing children with special needs, the design and implementation of law enforcement agencies policies and procedures on violent crime, the development of child abduction regional response plans and other efforts aimed at enhancing an entity’s overall response to violent crime. Furthermore, Mr. Sheppard has conducted research in the areas of violent crime to include serial homicides, child homicides and child abductions.
Mr. Sheppard is a retired member of the Pennsylvania State Police where he held a number of investigative and supervisory positions. As the supervisor of the Criminal Investigation Assessment (CIA) Unit, he was responsible for the investigation and coordination of psychosexual homicide, serial rape, and other behaviorally based crimes occurring in Pennsylvania. In this capacity, he created and implemented the Pennsylvania State Police Basic Homicide course and the Criminal Investigation for Supervisors course of instruction. Additionally, Mr. Sheppard structured and facilitated criminal case assessment reviews for local and state law enforcement in the state of Pennsylvania as well as for other law enforcement agencies across the United States. Moreover, as the supervisor of the CIA Unit, Mr. Sheppard administered the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Mr. Sheppard was instrumental in the creation of the Northeast Regional ViCAP Association in which he worked with other states and the FBI to change the (ViCAP) data collection protocols to include the collection and analysis of sexual assault information in the linking and tracking of violent criminals. Contemporaneous with his responsibilities for the Criminal Investigative Assessment Unit, Mr. Sheppard was responsible for the supervision of the Pennsylvania State Police Missing Persons Unit. In this capacity, he provided investigative assistance for law enforcement in missing, abducted and sexually exploited children cases. Additionally, Mr. Sheppard set up standard operating procedures and in-depth uniform instructions pertaining to the methodology for conducting comprehensive missing person investigations. Due to his work in that area, Mr. Sheppard was also asked to serve as the Clearinghouse Manager to mediate between the Pennsylvania State Police and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in matters on child maltreatment issues. Additionally, Mr. Sheppard provided consultative work for the United States Justice Department and NCMEC on the creation and implementation of various training programs addressing missing and abducted children incidents.
Mr. Sheppard is the creator of the Pennsylvania AMBER Alert Program which uses the Emergency Alert System to broadcast critical information about child abductions to the viewing and listening public of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Mr. Sheppard was instrumental in working with the Pennsylvania Lottery Commission to use the Commission’s various ticketing systems to further disseminate AMBER alert information. Furthermore, Mr. Sheppard worked closely with the CTIA – The Wireless Association in Washington D.C. to create and beta test new computer technology to disseminate AMBER alert information for the United States.
Due to his pioneering work in the creation of the Pennsylvania AMBER Alert Program, Mr. Sheppard was one of three people selected to serve as an advisor on the then newly created National Amber Advisory Work Group. The Group was formed by the President George W. Bush Administration in Washington, D.C. During the Bush Administration, President George W. Bush requested the Group create a seamless environment and set up the connectivity between each developing AMBER Alert program in the United States. With this direction, the Work Group helped in the creation, development, and implementation of AMBER Alert programs across the United States.
During his career with the Pennsylvania State Police, Mr. Sheppard also served on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Legal/Medical Advisory Board on Elder Abuse in which he provides case consultations on elder abuse incidents occurring in Pennsylvania.
After his retirement from the Pennsylvania State Police, Mr. Sheppard held the position as the Associate Director of Training and Outreach for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Mr. Sheppard oversaw the facilitation of training and outreach programs designed to enhance law enforcement efforts in the investigation of missing, abducted, and exploited children. In this role, Mr. Sheppard has co-authored numerous professional publications and training manuals designed to enhance law enforcement’s response to missing and abducted children’s incidents. Additionally, Mr. Sheppard was responsible for the Team Adam Program for NCMEC, a program designed as an on-site response and support system that provides investigative and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in cases of missing children incidents, child abduction incidents and child sexual victimization incidents. Moreover, to ensure the critical collaboration and on-going cooperation is maintained pertaining to missing and exploitation of children issues, Mr. Sheppard served as the NCMEC liaison for Child Abduction Response Teams (CART) and the National Clearinghouses established across the United States.
Mr. Sheppard has researched and co-authored NCMEC publications on law enforcement’s response to missing children with special needs and provides on-going training and lectures in those matters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Sheppard has addressed professionals representing the disciplines of law enforcement, corrections, social work, probation and parole, medicine, law, television, radio, and academia on a national and international basis.
Mr. Sheppard has provided expert testimony in matters pertaining to violent crime and missing and exploited children issues before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Mr. Sheppard is the recipient of numerous awards both nationally and internationally for his support and expertise in violent crime, child exploitation investigations, and child abduction response plans.
Mr. Sheppard is a member of the Vidocq Society, a group comprised of experts from various disciplines across the country that provide pro bono services in the investigation and analysis of unsolved violent crimes occurring in the United States.
Mr. Sheppard served as a board member of the Pennsylvania State Emergency Communications Committee where he aided in matters related to the interoperability of the Pennsylvania Emergency Alert System and the Pennsylvania Amber Alert Plan for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Sheppard is the past Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Homicide Investigators Association, past member of the Pennsylvania State Emergency Management Agency, past Board member of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Legal/Medical Advisory Board on Elder Abuse and member of the Virginia Homicide Investigators Association.
Mr. Sheppard is a past board member of the Public Agency Training Foundation Board of Directors.