Basics
The WZ method employs a non-confrontational approach to investigative interviewing which uses a number of different evidence-based strategies that minimize the emotional pressure of the interview scenario, therefore reducing resistance by the subject. It is the flexibility of these approaches which allows investigators to gain reliable information in a shorter period of time to more criminal acts than ever before.
All of the WZ instructors are Certified Forensic Interviewers who have employed the techniques in actual investigations
WZ conducts over 450 seminars a year on investigative interviewing and related topics. WZ seminars have been presented nationally in all fifty states, and has shown significant global interest while hosting seminars throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa and more!
Yes, Wicklander Zulawski & Associates is the only training company that requires all its instructors to be Certified Forensic Interviewers (CFI). Most instructors have also been POST Certified to instruct on the topics of investigative interviewing in the public sector.
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. Contact us for more information on supplemental materials.
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.
The Practical Advanced seminar is a workshop that develops the techniques learned during the two day Level I 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.
Your Safety
We ask that all attendees take precautionary measures and assist in maintaining a safe and healthy environment. If you are feeling ill, please take care of yourself and, out of respect for other attendees, we ask that you do not attend the training seminar.
Additionally, please follow these “Steps to Prevent Illness” as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
If a WZ open registration or in-person training program is canceled due to circumstances surrounding COVID, you may transfer the registration to another class (in-person or virtual), obtain credit for future use, or request a full refund.
WZ open training programs take place at hotels throughout the country and the world. If a mandate is put in place by the state or hotel, attendees may be asked to provide proof of their COVID vaccinations. In some instances, course participants will need to supply documented proof directly to the hotel. In other instances, WZ may be asked to gather the information from the attendees and then provide a vaccination roster to the hotel. If the latter is required, WZ will destroy vaccination documentation provided by an attendee following the training event. Thank you for your cooperation.
Attendees
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 allow the instructor to use common case types to help achieve the desired learning goals set forth for the participants.
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.
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
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)
Qualified individuals can attend our seminars on their own. There may be some restrictions depending on the course which may be limited to sworn law enforcement personnel only.
The open registration seminars Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates conduct throughout the US, and Internationally 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.
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.
Certification
The term “Wicklander Certified” typically refers to the certificate attendees receive after completing the two day Investigative Interviewing Techniques seminar.
“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.
“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 not a required examination after attending the 2-day seminar. Attendees or their supervisors may want to register for a post-seminar exam to test the knowledge they have gained during the seminar.
The Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) is a certification obtained by taking an extensive examination requiring the candidate to prove his knowledge of fifteen essential areas relating to interview field and covering a variety of different investigative interviewing approaches. The CFI examination and designation is administered by the International Association of Interviewers.
Yes, unless you have already purchased it. For the best results, we recommend completing the Online 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.
Contact us to replace or update your attendance certificate at 800.222.7789 x101.
Continuing Education
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.
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.
No. WZ programs are all regularly reviewed and updated to include the latest information from legal, psychological, and efficacy-focused interview research on an annual basis.
Payments
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.
The FlexPlan allows you to transfer your paid registration(s) to another in-person or virtual training course of your choice, completely free of charge. FlexPlan was created to provide you with alternative options should an in-person training program be canceled due to COVID-19 or other related government action.
If you need to utilize the FlexPLan, please contact a WZ Team Member at 800.222.7789.
All Transfers and Credits must be redeemed within one-year from the date of issue or else you will lose the credit.
Non-attendance: We regret that we cannot provide refunds, transfers or credits.
Substitutions: If you cannot attend, delegate substitutions are permitted at any time up to and including the first day of the seminar.
Many of our expenses are incurred within the three week period just before the seminar. Our cancellation policy reflects the fact that few of these expenses can be recovered in the event of late cancellations.
For cancellations received at least 10 working days before the seminar: registrants are eligible for a refund, credit or transfer to another seminar. A $25 administration fee will be deducted from any refund.
For cancellations received 9 working days or less before the seminar: registrants are eligible for a transfer to another seminar.
All Transfers and Credits must be redeemed within one-year from the date of issue or else you will lose the credit.
Non-attendance: We regret that we cannot provide refunds, transfers or credits.
Substitutions: If you cannot attend, delegate substitutions are permitted at any time up to and including the first day of the seminar.
The following WZ courses are approved by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) for 302 Funding:
The WZ Seminar on Criminal Investigative Interviewing
The WZ Practical Advanced Workshop
The WZ Seminar on DOA: Death Investigations
The WZ Seminar on Gang Investigations
The WZ Seminar on Tactical Field Interviewing
Wicklander Zulawski Ltd. is the account holder for all financial transactions in Europe, Africa, or Asia. All payments (including credit cards and online financial transactions) from countries within these regions and territories should be made to Wicklander Zulawski Ltd.
