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?

All of our courses are California POST certified because we are based in California. However, we present courses all over the United States and we’re happy to work with you to obtain certification in your particular state. Contact us to start a discussion about getting the process started.

Law enforcement officers are under scrutiny like never before. That’s why when an officer is accused of wrongdoing, the investigation must be conducted by competent and professionally trained investigators. Officers deserve it and so do the public they serve.

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.

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Comparing Course Versions

We offer two different versions of this course, an 8-hour presentation and a 24-hour presentation. We compare them below so you can determine which version may be best for you or your department:

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.

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Upcoming Presentations: