Wicklander - Zulawski and Associates, Inc.

• What is the difference between the Public and Private Sector?

• Can someone from the Private Sector take a Public Sector class and vice-versa?

• Do I have to be employed by a company or department to attend the seminar or can I attend on my own?

• Do I (or why do I) have to take the "basic" seminar before I can attend the advanced?

• How is your training different from other interviewing courses?

• I am looking for a job and I see that companies want me to be "Wicklander Certified", what does this mean?

• What discounts do you offer?

• Are your instructors certified to any industry standards?

• What is the difference between CFI and "Wicklander Certified"?

• What is your cancellation policy?

• What is the difference between an open registration seminar and a contract or in-house program?

• What is the dress code at the seminar?

• Do I need to bring anything with me to the seminar?

• Will an invoice be mailed to me? Can I get an invoice emailed to me? When is payment due? What forms of payment to you take?

• Can I get continuing education credits for attending a WZ class?

• Are W-Z courses approved for 302 Funding (in Michigan)?

• I've been told only John E. Reid teaches the Reid Method. How is W-Z able to teach the Reid Method?

• What is the difference between the Reid Method and the Reid Technique?

• Which police departments use your services?

• Which Federal agencies use your services?

• How many seminars does Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates conduct each year?

• Can you provide a seminar that is tailored to our specific needs, rather than a standardized course?

• I noticed some changes to the training since last time. Since I am on the mailing list will I be informed when changes are made in the future?

• How often do I need to refresh the skills I learned at a W-Z class? How often is the information updated?

• Do I have to purchase the CFI Prep CD-ROM to attend the CFI Prep Seminar?

What is the difference between the Public and Private Sector?

The seminars WZ offers for our Public Sector clients are structured for groups within the Law Enforcement, Federal Law Enforcement, Military and Government communities. 

Our Private Sector clients are typically businesses facing different types of challenges, cases, and policies requiring the instructor to tailor the course to these needs.  The private sector also includes schools, utilities, railroad, Inspector General, social workers or other non law enforcement entities tasked with learning the truth. 

We encourage these groups who deal with similar cases and legal restrictions to attend the appropriate public or private course because of common learning objectives and networking.  Grouping these investigators into public and private sectors allows the instructor to use common case types to help achieve the desired learning goals set forth for the participants. 

Can someone from the Private Sector take a Public Sector class and vice-versa?

Yes, you can attend either the Private Sector or Public Sector classes, regardless of your job or career path.  Keep in mind though, if you work in the Private Sector and attend the Public Sector class (or vice-versa) you will be seeing interview examples and investigative approaches to cases you may not encounter on a regular basis.

Do I have to be employed by a company or department to attend the seminar or can I attend on my own?

Qualified individuals can attend our seminars on their own.   There may be some restrictions depending on the course which may be limited to law enforcement personnel only.  Defense attorneys and Public Defenders are not permitted to attend Public Sector programs.

Do I (or why do I) have to take the "basic" seminar before I can attend the advanced?

The advanced seminar is a workshop that develops the techniques learned during the two day Interview and Interrogation Techniques seminar.  It is important that all participants in the advanced seminar are familiar with the terminology and techniques learned during the two day seminar in order to maximize their learning experience.

How is your training different from other interviewing courses?

The WZ method employs a non-confrontational approach to interrogation which uses a number of different strategies to avoid causing a suspect to deny his involvement.  It is the flexibility of these approaches which allows investigators to gain admissions in a shorter period of time to more criminal acts then ever before.

All of the WZ instructors are Certified Forensic Interviewers who have employed the techniques in actual investigations.  Each instructor has personally conducted thousands of interviews.

I am looking for a job and I see that companies want me to be "Wicklander Certified", what does this mean?

To most people “Wicklander Certified” means that you have attended a two-day seminar on Interview & Interrogation Techniques taught by Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates and have received a certificate of completion.

“Wicklander Certified” or “WZ Certified” is a name the industry has attached to attending a WZ 2-day seminar.  There is actually no WZ certification, as there is no exam after attending the 2-day seminar. 

What discounts do you offer?

Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates discount policy is as follows:

• When a company registers 5 or more attendees for the same program it will receive a 10% discount for each participant.
• When an individuals register for both the basic and advanced seminars at the same location they will receive a 10% discount for both programs. 
• Only one discount per person applies.
• Discounts are also available for companies booking multiple contract seminars in the same year.

For more information please contact Brett Ward for Private Sector classes 630-852-6800 ext. 119 bward@w-z.com or Bob Brislan for Public Sector classes 630-852-6800 ext. 103 bbrislan@w-z.com .

Are your instructors certified to any industry standards?

Yes, Wicklander Zulawski & Associates is the only training company that requires all it’s instructors to be Certified Forensic Interviewers (CFI). Most instructors have also been POST Certified to instruct on the topics of interview and interrogation in the public sector.

What is the difference between CFI and "Wicklander Certified"?

“Wicklander Certified” or “WZ Certified” is a name the industry has attached to attending a WZ 2-day seminar.  There is actually no WZ certification, as there is no examination after attending the 2-day seminar. 

The Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) examination and designation is administered by the Center for Interviewer Standards and Assessment.  The CFI designation is a certification obtained by taking an extensive examination requiring the candidate to prove his knowledge of fifteen essential areas relating to interview and interrogation and covering a variety of different interview and interrogation approaches.

What is your cancellation policy?

Attendees who cancel 5 or more business days before the seminar can receive a full refund.  Attendees who cancel within 5 days of the seminar will receive a credit toward attendance at another seminar within the following 6 months.

What is the difference between an open registration seminar and a contract or in-house program?

The open registration seminars Wicklander -Zulawski & Associates conducts throughout the US, Canada, and UK are open to any interviewer who is assigned to handle security investigations, sexual harassment, Title VII violations, or policy and procedure issues.  Most attend these sessions to learn how to apply our techniques to their specific areas of interest. 

When WZ does proprietary in-house programs for companies or organizations, the program specifically addresses that organization’s type of cases and skill sets.  Attendance is limited to that company’s associates, unless prior arrangements have been made.  Typically these programs are customized to fit the specific demographics, culture, policies and procedures of that organization.

What is the dress code at the seminar?

The dress code for our seminars is business casual.  We appreciate a professional appearance, but understand the need to be comfortable during the seminar.  Since this is a great networking venue a professional demeanor and appearance will enhance the experience.

Do I need to bring anything with me to the seminar?

We ask everyone brings an open mind, a willingness to learn and share their experiences. 

WZ will provide an outline workbook and pen to facilitate note taking.   However, if you feel you may want extra paper to take notes on free to bring a notebook with you.

WZ does not permit audio/visual recording of the seminar.  There are supplemental materials available for purchase to enhance the educational experience. Click here for more information on supplemental materials.

Will an invoice be mailed to me? Can I get an invoice emailed to me? When is payment due? What forms of payment to you take?

If you provide an email address, an invoice will be emailed to you.  If not, it will be sent using standard mail.  Payment must be received prior to the first day of the seminar.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, personal or company checks and money orders.

Can I get continuing education credits for attending a WZ class?

This ultimately depends on the organization/association you belong to.  Most organizations have recognized WZ seminars for continuing education.  Prior to attending a program you may want to check with your organization to see what information they need to accept our class for credit. 

WZ has worked with many participants to document attendance and instruction to establish continuing education credits. Many individuals have received college credits after attending our courses; it is up to the specific college or university as to whether or not they grant credit.  We will be happy to provide you with whatever information you need to assist in gaining these credits.

Are W-Z courses approved for 302 Funding (in Michigan)?

The following WZ courses are approved by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) for 302 Funding:

• The WZ Seminar on Criminal Interview & Interrogation
• The WZ Advanced Workshop on Interview & Interrogation
• The WZ Seminar on DOA: Death Investigations
• The WZ Seminar on Gang Investigations
• The WZ Seminar on Tactical Field Interviewing

I've been told only John E. Reid teaches the Reid Method. How is W-Z able to teach the Reid Method?

Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates has been licensed to teach the Reid Method since 1984.  Since that time WZ has updated the material using the latest information from legal, psychological, interview and interrogation research.

What is the difference between the Reid Method and the Reid Technique?

The Reid Method is taught by Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates and the Reid Technique is taught by John E. Reid and Associates.  Each includes instruction on the interpretation of behavior, Behavior Analysis Interviews, and the nine step interrogation process.

Which police departments use your services?

WZ has trained over 100,000 law enforcement professionals and currently provides our services to police departments such as:

• Chicago Police Department
• Washington State Patrol
• Phoenix Police Department
• San Antonio Police Department
• Detroit Police Department
• Oakland County (MI) Sheriff’s Office
• Illinois State Police
• Illinois Mobile Team Units
• Middlesex (NJ) Police Academy
• Kent (WA) Police Department
• Arlington & Irving (TX) Police Departments
• Bozeman (MT) Police Department
• Massachusetts State Police
• Sioux City Police Department (Sioux City National Training Center)
• St. Louis County & Municipal Academy
• Beaverton (OR) Police Department
• Fairfax County (VA) Criminal Justice Academy
• Knox County (TN) Sheriff’s Office
• Broward County (FL) Sheriff’s Office
• Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center

Which Federal agencies use your services?

WZ provides standard and customized courses on interview and interrogation techniques to federal agencies such as:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police (VA Police)
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
• U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM)
• U.S Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
• U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
• U.S. Navy (NCIS)
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
• Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
• Inspector General Criminal Investigator Academy (IG Academy FLETC)
• U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Diplomatic Security Services)
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF&E)

How many seminars does Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates conduct each year?

WZ conducts almost 400 seminars a year on interview and interrogation or related topics.  WZ seminars have been presented nationally in all fifty states, as well as internationally in Europe, Africa, and South America.

Can you provide a seminar that is tailored to our specific needs, rather than a standardized course?

The vast majority of our in-house contract programs are tailored to fit the specific needs of our individual clients and the types of cases they deal with.  Prior to the seminar, we contact the client to identify any specific needs, concerns, or operational polices relating to interviews.  Based on these discussions the instructor will tailor the presentation to those needs.

WZ can extensively customize any of our courses to the specific instructional goals of the client. Organizations requiring substantial customization can request an estimate for any additional charges prior to the work. For workbook customization, we need 4-5 weeks lead time to accommodate changes, printing and shipping of the materials.

For more information please contact Brett Ward for Private Sector classes 630-852-6800 ext. 119 bward@w-z.com or Bob Brislan for Public Sector classes 630-852-6800 ext. 103 bbrislan@w-z.com .

I noticed some changes to the training since last time. Since I am on the mailing list will I be informed when changes are made in the future?

No.  WZ programs are all regularly reviewed and updated to include the latest information from legal, psychological, interview and interrogation research on an annual basis.  

How often do I need to refresh the skills I learned at a W-Z class? How often is the information updated?

We have investigators that attend annually to refresh their skills and rethink what they are currently doing. Based on our experience, we recommend refreshing your WZ skills every two or three years at a minimum. We find people tend to drift away from the benchmark performance the longer they are away from the class they took. 

The course curriculum is evaluated and updated on an annual basis.  Sometimes the changes are subtle, other times significant changes are made to the class.  Even with subtle changes there’s nothing like a solid refresher and a boost of confidence to help you be more successful in your interviews.

Do I have to purchase the CFI Prep CD-ROM to attend the CFI Prep Seminar?

Yes, unless you already have already purchased one. For the best results, we recommend completing the CD-Rom prep program prior to attending the CFI prep seminar.  We also suggest scheduling a testing date and site to take the CFI examination as soon as possible after the seminar.