Courtroom Tactics & Testimony for Police Officers: A Prosecution Perspective

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Presented by "Just the Facts Seminars"

Instructors:

William L. Cataldo – Chief of Homicide for the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, retired, and former criminal defense attorney.

Craig Keith – D/Lieutenant, Clinton Township Police Department, retired. Chief Investigator for the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, retired.

Tim Brown – Specialist/Sergeant and Crash Reconstruction Expert, Michigan State Police, retired.

Course Description:

Police officers are taught to police; prosecutors are taught to try cases. In a perfect world, the strategies taught in both academies would align to provide the perfect trial. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the real world. Criminal charges cannot be effectively prosecuted without experienced officers correctly testifying to facts and evidence properly collected and documented. In short: Teamwork.

This interactive course is designed to take police officers from the street into the courtroom, through the eyes of an experienced prosecutor, educating them on what is required to successfully prosecute a case. Officers will be instructed on how their investigation/observation/reporting skills can be refined to isolate critical elements necessary for their successful testimony; to approach the pool of data that is an investigation and help them sort through it, assemble it and know how to testify to it in a way that is successful for trial.

Topics Include:

  • Understanding of how crime scene investigations play into the bigger picture of presenting that information to a jury
  • Improving officer documentation of crime scenes and report writing
  • The importance of factual and detailed report writing to testifying
  • Establishing Productive Relationships with Assistant Prosecutors
  • Provide tools and techniques to effectively help officers gain credibility/bond with jurors and handle cross examination
  • Tips on reducing the stress and anxiety of testifying (build self-confidence)    

Course Details:

- 302 Funds Eligible -