Internal Affairs Investigations
Learn how to conduct internal affairs investigations from incident to adjudication.
Internal Affairs Investigations
Learn how to conduct internal affairs investigations from incident to adjudication.
8 Hours or 24 Hours (Variable)
Need certification for your state?
But most police agencies don’t have a full-time IA investigator, so it is often sergeants and lieutenants get tasked with that responsibility. Even for those agencies with an IA unit, it’s often the on-duty sergeants and watch commanders who are tasked with conducting the initial intake and making some initial decisions.
That’s why we offer our Internal Affairs Investigation course in two formats – an 8-hour basic primer course for every supervisor and a 24-hour comprehensive investigation course for those who want to learn how to conduct the investigation from intake through adjudication.
This course provides law enforcement supervisors and investigators with the specific skills they can use to investigate both internally and externally generated matters. This training will include directions on the crucial steps that must be taken during the intake, investigation, presentation, and adjudication phase. You’ll learn how to organize an investigation, and proven methods for conducting thorough investigations based on the latest case law.
Whether you are a supervisor with collateral duties in the initial intake of IA complaints, or you conduct full-blown IA investigations for your agency, this class is for you.
Comparing Course Versions
8-Hour Course Presentation:
Target Audience: All police supervisors
Learning Objective: To understand the police supervisor’s role in the intake and initial investigative steps of an internal affairs investigation. This includes complaint intake procedures and officer’s rights pertaining to questioning from a supervisor.
Curriculum includes:
- Learn how to conduct fair, defensible investigations that protect both your agency and your officers while maintaining public trust.
- Master the essentials of complaint intake, investigation, and adjudication so you can confidently handle personnel complaints from start to finish.
- Understand the Peace Officer Bill of Rights (POBAR) and how to avoid costly procedural missteps during interviews or discipline.
- Navigate New Laws such as what triggers state-level investigations and reporting duties.
- Participate in realistic, scenario-based exercises drawn from real IA cases that give you the skills to make sound, lawful decisions under pressure.
24-Hour Course Presentation:
Target Audience: Supervisors who may have to conduct IA investigations more regularly
Learning objective: To understand the framework of conducting thorough and fair IA investigations from the initial intake through the investigative phase, and ultimately through the adjudication phase.
Curriculum includes:
- Learning how to run complete, defensible IA investigations— from complaint intake through adjudication, using proven best practices grounded in state-specific law and POST standards.
- Master the legal framework including the Peace Officer Bill of Rights (POBAR), State-specific statutes, and the latest case law so that your investigations withstand scrutiny in court or arbitration.
- Develop expert-level interviewing and report-writing skills to obtain statements, analyze evidence, and prepare findings that protect your agency and maintain public trust.
- Navigate complex issues with confidence, such as off-duty misconduct, workplace searches, social-media violations, and the POST decertification process.
- Learn directly from real-world case studies and facilitated group exercises designed to help you avoid common investigative errors and build your credibility as an IA investigator.
Upcoming Presentations:
Internal Affairs Investigations
Dec 17 • Hanford, CA
Jan 21 • Milpitas, CA
Feb 2 - 4 • Livermore, CA
Your Instructor:
Senior Instructor Marlon Marrache is a 24-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who recently retired at the rank of Sergeant. During his career, he spent 12 years assigned full-time to Internal Affairs, where he conducted and supervised hundreds of administrative investigations involving police misconduct. Marlon’s rare experience working both as an Internal Affairs investigator and as a representative defending officers gives him a unique, 360-degree understanding of the discipline process. His background includes serving as a prosecutor in the LAPD’s Board of Rights tribunal system and as an investigator in the Officer Representation Section ensuring compliance with the Peace Officer Bill of Rights Act. Marlon also holds a Juris Doctorate from Pacific Coast University, School of Law, and is a certified instructor through IADLEST and California POST. In addition to teaching for Savage Training Group, he is the host of Internal Affairs: A Police Podcast, where he explores lessons learned from real-world investigations. More about Marlon
Students are saying:
"Do it! Worth your time. The case law reviews were informative."
— Roy Brown, Santa Monica PD (CA)
"I feel better with admin issues. Great course with knowledgeable instructors."
— Steve Souphasith, Fresno County Sheriff's Office (CA)
"My favorite part was being challenged by the instructor as well as their sense of humor. 100% recommend this for all our supervisors."
— Sgt. Erin Montgomery, Elk Grove PD (CA)
"Before the class I didn’t feel prepared to handle an IA but now I do. Very worthwhile training."
— Sgt. Ryan DeJohn, Santa Barbara PD (CA)
"This course is RELEVANT. I appreciated the instructor’s style. Most POST classes are taught by an irrelevant 100-year old retiree who speaks as if he is the ultimate authority. These instructors gave options, posed questions, and said it if they didn’t know the answer."
— Sgt. Steve Boyett, Paso Robles PD (CA)
“Excellent course and instructors. My favorite part was their energy and the info they provided.”
— Det. Vanfleet, Simi Valley PD (CA)
"I enjoyed learning about all the laws and updates. This class is 1000% worth it."
— Investigator Patrick Weithers, City of Long Beach (CA)
"First-hand, real life experiences from the instructors made the learning environment easy to understand."
— Sgt. RC, Santa Barbara PD (CA)