NYPD Criminal Investigation Course adjusts to 21st century

BY Alison Gendar
DAILY NEWS POLICE BUREAU CHIEF

Saturday, March 21st 2009, 5:36 PM

Once, when the NYPD's wanna-be detectives went for training classes, it typically involved a few old-timers sharing vintage war stories.

Things are a little more sophisticated lately.

The recently revamped Criminal Investigation Course may revisit the past, but the focus for investigators is 21st-century crime-fighting.

There are briefings in the latest ways DNA can track a suspect, along with updates in electronic surveillance. And there are still tips on tapping the sleuthing experience of the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies.

"War stories are great, but they don't tell someone how to run a case, or what a district attorney needs to put the guy away," said Wilbur Chapman, NYPD deputy commissioner of training.

The department recently overhauled the CIC program, its first top-to-bottom revision since its 1976 creation.

"I wanted to make sure it was up to date and that it provided detectives with a solid foundation in case management in addition to investigative techniques," said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

"It's achieved that and more and has been well-received. This was an opportunity to make the best detectives in the world even better," Kelly said.

At a recent session, city correction investigators detailed what they can offer the NYPD: gang pedigrees on inmates, intelligence from inmates' recorded telephone conversations and shortcuts on arranging prisoner interviews.

"Criminals don't stop their criminal activity when they are in our system," said Intel Investigator James Robinson of the city Correction Department. "Call us. We can help."

Another session gave investigators the 411 on gangs, from initiations and tattoos to histories and graffiti. Parole is slated to explain how their home inspections can become a detective's best friend.

"It's a chance to expose people to what other agencies can offer," said Master Instructor Robert Massey.

With 1,871 of the NYPD's investigators on the job two years or less, there are fewer experienced detectives to pass on their knowledge, Chapman said - so programs like CIC are crucial.

Detective Sonia Rivera, an 18-year NYPD veteran with 14 years as a detective, put together the team that redid the 105-hour course before its October debut.

"They are already good at what they do," she said of police investigators. "We just want to make them better, which helps them and the city of New York."

About 160 investigators have taken the revamped course. Most are newly promoted to their jobs - although empty seats are often filled by more experienced detectives.

"It's not the typical bull---- we usually get," said one freshly minted detective after taking the course. "It actually is info we need and can use."

To convince skeptical veterans that no one knows everything, instructors give the class a before and after test.

"When an old hand scores 36%, they sit up a little straighter - and score above 80% by the end," Chapman said.

One of the least popular sessions detailed writing up a case file to help the district attorney's office win a conviction.

"We say, 'Do you want to be the reason some killer gets a shorter sentence, because of something you didn't do?'" said Detective Clifford Ader, a 19-year veteran now with Bronx homicide and an author of the course.

"The answer is always no."

RetUrnGuy wrote:

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"War stories are great, but they don't tell someone how to run a case, or what a district attorney needs to put the guy away," said Wilbur Chapman, NYPD deputy commissioner of training.

I wonder if Wilbur shared his war story about his domestic violence case - when HE was the perp.