• Instructor:  Steve Peterson         REGISTER HERE
• Date:  June 9, 2023
• Location:  RCCC-N, Bldg N110, Room 133
• Time:  8 am – 5 pm
• Total Hrs: 8

• No one goes to jail based on what you know.  Criminals go to jail based on what you write.  Prosecutors will plea-bargain and dismiss cases based on your reports.  A poorly constructed report will never result in a conviction.  First you must convince a prosecutor to take your case, next you must convince a jury to convict.  A trial is about perception and persuasion.  How does a jury perceive you and can how can you persuade a jury?  The 8-hour class is designed to prepare officers for rigors of cross-examination by defense attorneys.  Confidence, professionalism and integrity are emphasized when exploring the common areas defense attorneys exploit to discredit officers.  Officers are taught the importance of detailed report writing, note taking, and appropriate preparation for various court hearings relative to successful prosecutions.  Topics include:
• Trial Preparation
• Proper Note & Report Writing
• Appearance & Jury Appeal
• Presentation & Professionalism

Upon completion of this class, students will be able to:

Understand the need for detailed note taking,

Prepare professional reports and affidavits,

Recognize common defense attorney tactics to discredit witnesses,

Assist prosecutors with the successful prosecutions of drug traffickers

Lead Instructor Biography

Steven R. Peterson had been a Special Agent (SA) of the United States Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for nearly three decades.  At the time of his retirement, SA Peterson was the most senior DEA street agent in the world.  During his tenure, SA Peterson had been stationed in Boston, New York, Atlanta, retiring in Charlotte in 2010.  For nearly ten years he had been the DEA Atlanta Field Division Training Coordinator (DTC), responsible for coordinating and conducting training to all DEA employees within the Atlanta Division, as well as Task Force Officers, State & Local Police Officers and civilians within Georgia, Tennessee and North & South Carolina.  As a DEA DTC, SA Peterson has taught over

80,000 law enforcement officers.  Prior to training, as a street agent working undercover for over 18 years, SA Peterson received numerous awards and commendations, including appointment as Lead Investigator in the investigation of the murder of DEA SA Ray Stastny in 1987 in Atlanta.

SA Peterson was a DEA Certified Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Tactical/Raids Instructor, Clan Lab Certified, Site Safety Officer, a member of DEA’s Traumatic Incident Response Team, graduate from the DEA Instructor Development Course (IDC), a Georgia POST Certified Instructor and a DHS Certified Instructor.  SA Peterson is also the co-author of the DEA DTC Training Manual distributed by the DEA Academy to all DEA DTCs throughout the US.  SA Peterson served as the President of the National Drug Enforcement Officers Association (NDEOA) for three years, the longest term of any President in the NDEOA’s 40-year history.

In 2010 SA Peterson took over the National Law Enforcement Speakers Bureau, LLC, a network of retired DEA Special Agents and other topic specific experts, providing the highest quality of training to the law enforcement community.  He is an adjunct instructor for DEA’s Academy at the Office of Training in Quantico, VA and a full-time Instructor at the DHS Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Charleston, SC.  But most importantly, he is the husband of a beautiful wife and father of three great daughters.  In actuality, he’s just an ordinary guy battling the forces of evil in extraordinary ways.