Strengthen Investigations. Build Trust. Lead with Confidence.

Equip investigators with proven methods to identify the truth when they attend the WZ Seminar on Investigative Interviewing Techniques. Learn multiple, non-confrontational strategies based on the evidence, subject considerations, or type of interview. Practical, researched-based concepts offer investigators flexibility in their approach to tackle any investigation.

Build the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to investigate child physical abuse with confidence. Through real-world case studies, guided discussion, and evidence-based instruction, examine offender and victim dynamics, abuse versus discipline, and common injury patterns, including burns, breaks, and bruises. Attendees learn to distinguish accidental injuries from inflicted trauma, strengthen documentation, and apply proven investigative strategies to reach informed, defensible conclusions that withstand legal scrutiny.

This course expands investigators’ understanding of child abuse by focusing on the unique dynamics of sexual abuse cases. Through real-world case studies and practical exercises, examine offender behaviors and motivations, victim vulnerabilities, grooming patterns, and child development. Together, these concepts help investigators recognize warning signs, understand offender tactics, and apply evidence-based strategies to make informed investigative decisions with greater confidence.

This course offers law enforcement professionals a broad range of advanced methods and proprietary tools. This training program will focus on evidence-based rapport-building techniques, focused on de-escalation and communication skills. Participants will learn how to conduct more effective field interviews and investigations, resulting in more actionable intelligence, while maintaining professionalism and building trust with members of the community.

Attend the Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) Trauma Informed Interviewing course and discover methods on how to conduct more effective interviews, resulting in identifying the truth more efficiently and with less resistance while minimizing the re-traumatization of the interviewee. Learn about the impact of trauma on memory, the risks of misclassification of behavior, and practical tools allowing them to facilitate a productive conversation. Course Objectives: Understand how experiencing a traumatic event will affect the behavior and cognitive abilities of the subject. Recognize the variety of causes of trauma and potential difficulties with obtaining information from traumatized individuals. Recognize the variety of causes of trauma and potential triggers. Utilize the Enhanced Cognitive Interview to improve the subject’s memory recall and obtain more information. Disclaimer: In an effort to demonstrate the importance of trauma-informed interviewing and the impact of traumatic experiences, there will be discussions and examples of real-life situations. Class materials, including video examples of traumatized people sharing their experiences, may be sensitive in nature and could be triggering for some individuals.

Modeled from the highly successful WZ Seminar on DOA: Death Investigations, the Lead Homicide Investigators course adds important instructional modules in crime scene analysis, interview and interrogation, application of 4th & 5th amendments, false confessions, and courtroom testimony. The course features interactive lectures and discussions of actual case histories, videos, and laws specific to homicide investigations. This comprehensive seminar provides instruction in conducting investigations and prosecuting death cases from the start of the investigation through evidence collection, suspect interviews, press conferences, trial testimony, and ultimately conviction. It is purposely designed to provide expert “in-the-field” instruction from the initial crime scene to a successful verdict. Using actual investigations, this program uses a diverse combination of homicide case studies to provide strategic tactics to establish guilt and prosecute the offenders. Participants work through cases from the moment of arrival until their conclusion. This program provides the structure and methods to successfully close cases. SEMINAR TOPICS INCLUDE: · Multiple Methods of Interviewing · Manage & Evaluate the Crime Scene · Development of COLD CASE Leads · Miranda + Electronic Readings · 4th Amendment–Search & Seizure · 5th Amendment–Evidence, GSR · Effective Courtroom Testimony · Death Notifications · Investigative Tactics · Criminal Interview & Interrogation · Handling the News Media · TASK FORCE Operations · Report Writing · False Confessions

The WZ Seminar on DOA: Death Investigations provides instruction in investigating and prosecuting death cases from the start of the investigation through evidence collection, autopsy, suspect interviews, press conferences, trial testimony and ultimately conviction. Learn state of the art techniques from an ex-Commander of a Major Crimes Task Force and a highly experienced Prosecutor and State's Attorney. This training course is an ideal program for those who investigate deaths including Homicide Detectives, Investigators, Prosecutors, Major Crime Task Force Members, Evidence Technicians, Coroners, Medical Examiners and First Response Teams. The techniques covered in this program provide the tools necessary to develop leads, identify potential suspects, and effectively interview those responsible. The program uses a diverse combination of homicide case studies to provide strategic tactics to establish guilt and prosecute the offenders. Using actual investigations, the participants work through cases from the moment of arrival until their conclusion. This program provides the structure and methods to successfully close cases. SEMINAR TOPICS INCLUDE: · Mental State of Suspect and How it Impacts the Solvability of a Homicide · Technological Advances · Evaluating the Crime Scene · Crime Scene Investigation · Cause and Manner of Death - Autopsy · Handling the News Media · Investigative Tactics · Criminal Interview & Interrogation · Development of COLD CASE Leads · TASK FORCE Operations · Legal Aspects · Preparation for and Testimony at Trial ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Each class brings together two disciplines from a seasoned homicide detective and a highly skilled prosecutor. Working together they blend practical street smarts and courtroom know-how. As experts within their respective fields, the speakers remain active in both the investigative and legal communities. They are regularly sought after to participate in jury trials involving major crimes, homicide prosecution and violent crimes, some of which have involved the most high profile and complex cases in Illinois history. In addition, they function as vital contributors to various Major Crime Task Forces and associations.

A comprehensive 2-day program on opioids, opioid deaths and the successful prosecution of overdose deaths as homicides. Participants will learn the different types of opioids and opiates being used including heroin, fentanyl, prescription pain killers and more. There will then be a discussion on the effects of opioids on users, how they break down in the body and how they kill. A key segment will explain the effects of Narcan and why users are still overdosing. The WZ instructor will review state-specific homicide laws and the elements of the different statutes for proper charges as well as the potential for federal charges. Participants will be able to anticipate what defense attorneys will present and how to make sure they effectively cover areas of concern. The class will learn how to establish policies and strategies to work their cases. The class will participate in discussions on working the crime scene and getting evidence for the drug case and the homicide case. This will lead into a presentation on courtroom testimony and working with prosecutors on how and who will present evidence in court. The seminar will conclude with instruction on the proper preparation for trial and how to deliver professional, effective testimony in concert with perspectives from the judge or juries point of view. SEMINAR TOPICS INCLUDE: Overview of Opioid Overdose Death Investigations State Specific Laws and What Charges to Use Anticipate and Prepare for Defense Attorney Arguments Development of Department Policy and Case Management Legal Considerations—Search, Seizure, Miranda, Interrogations Making a Homicide Case and Investigative Strategies Courtroom Testimony and Working with Your Prosecutor Based on actual investigations, this dynamic program uses a diverse combination of case studies to provide strategic tactics to analyze and evaluate investigative strategies specific to opioid overdose death investigations.

The Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) Seminar on Non-Confrontational Interviewing for Internal Affairs Investigators applies specifically to agencies whose personnel may be called upon to conduct internal inquiries on incident claims related to law-breaking and professional misconduct. Investigators and associated law enforcement professionals conducting these sensitive inquiries will learn to apply the special legal aspects of an internal investigation as well as interview and interrogation techniques that will most often uncover the truth and bring these cases to a successful conclusion. This course is designed to teach sound, basic fundamentals for conducting a complete and thorough internal probe of sworn and non-sworn police personnel. Participants will learn step-by-step how to begin an internal investigation, protect the employee’s rights, and discover cutting-edge methods and proprietary tools to conduct more effective interviews and interrogations to identify the truth with less resistance. This course offers instruction on how to interpret verbal and non-verbal behavior, Selective Interview Technique, Fact-Finding Interview, Participatory Method and the WZ Non-Confrontational Method. After completing this course, participants will be able to: Understand the elements needed to open an internal investigation involving a sworn or non-sworn employee Identify the specific case law particular to the internal interview and the rights of an employee under investigation Protect the statement of an employee from being used in a separate criminal investigation (Garrity) Stop a denial that could bring additional charges and may result in an officer being placed on the Brady List Understand the role of the Internal Affairs Investigator as it pertains to a “Use of Force” investigation Inform an employee when they are under investigation Establish the ideal room setting and incorporate audio/video in accordance with legal mandates to record interviews and interrogations Interpret and evaluate the subject’s verbal and physical behavior as they relate to identifying the truth Apply factual analysis to the interview of an employee along with non-accusatory techniques to obtain information Prepare and conduct interviews and interrogations with special consideration for the causes of false or involuntary confessions Understand how to present in proper form and content the investigation results to a Use of Force Board, Discipline Review Board or Civil Service Commission

Interviewing suspects of child abuse are among the most difficult interview you will conduct. The topic is complex and emotionally charged. This training course offers law enforcement and child protection agency professionals a broad range of modern methods and proprietary tools to conduct more effective interviews when investigating child assault cases.

The 2-day WZ Seminar on Non-Confrontational Interview & Interrogation Techniques for Drug Investigations was specifically designed for agencies whose personnel may be called upon to interview or interrogation suspects, victims, informants or witnesses during drug or violent crime investigations. In this dynamic course, investigators and associated law enforcement professionals will learn to apply non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques that will bring these cases to a successful conclusion. Seminar participants will learn a conversational approach to conduct more effective interviews and interrogations that will result in quicker admissions and better statements. The WZ instructor will teach how to offer rationalizations specific to drug and violent crime investigations and how to handle denials, detect deception and evaluate truthfulness. Learn to assess verbal and non-verbal behavior and become more effective on the focus of an investigation and obtaining reliable information. Gather a variety of non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques to overcome resistance of victims, witnesses and criminal offenders. SEMINAR TOPICS INCLUDE: · Legal Consideration in Obtaining a Valid Confession · Room Setting and Preparation · Interpretation of Verbal and Physical Behavior · Selective Interview Technique · Fact-Finding Interview · WZ Non-Confrontational Method · Rationalizations · Handling Denials · Development of the Admission · Elements of the Written & Formal Statements

This dynamic 3-day course enhances participants abilities to elicit information from people while avoiding confrontation. Participants will learn how to deal with the most common interview responses and obstacles, and how to uncover evidence that leads to truth and accountability. Who should attend The Wicklander-Zulawski Seminar on Non-Confrontational Interviewing Techniques for Fraud and Financial Crimes is designed to educate professionals to conduct more effective interviews resulting in quicker admissions and better statements. Participants in these seminars include forensic auditors, financial analysts, special agents and fraud examiners These techniques enable interviewers to expand admissions into other areas of unknown fraudulent activity and identify the methods that were used to commit these frauds. Our expert instructors provide several techniques including non-confrontational interview techniques to overcome resistance, offer rationalizations, handle denials, detect deception and evaluate truthfulness. The non-confrontation WZ Method has been recognized world wide for the way it produces faster and more accurate results. In many cases, admissions are achieved without the suspect ever making a denial or proclaiming his innocence. Part of what we'll cover Room Setting and Preparation Interpretation of Verbal and Physical Behavior Behavioral Interview Technique THE WZ NON-CONFRONTATIONAL METHOD Rationalizations Handling Denials Enticement Questions Obtaining the Admission Development of the Admission Obtaining The Written or Recorded Confession

The non-confrontational methodology of WZ training has expanded into the difficult and high-pressure setting of conflict resolution and de-escalation. Today’s retail associate, law enforcement officer, loss prevention professional or employee relations expert has often dealt with a disruptive guest, disgruntled employee or a hostile subject.