Writers Homicide School

The audience will be riveted as they get behind the yellow tape and learn what all goes into becoming a homicide detective and working murder cases. Derek is a dynamic instructor who developed the Homicide School for real police officers and has taught it across the country. The Writers Homicide School is based on real teachings for real detectives and is available to writers of all kinds and anyone who wants to learn how real homicide detectives solve cases. You will hear stories, watch videos and maybe even get called as a volunteer to be part of a demonstration!

The audience will be taken through the police world starting with the academy, learn about criminal law - not just homicide but many other relatable laws commonly misused in fictional works - the CSI process and last but not least, Interview and Interrogation - Derek's specialty!

Derek Pacifico has a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and was a real cop for 24 years. The first 22 years of law enforcement were served in Southern California with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s Homicide Detective
Pacifico worked nearly 200 murder and other suspicious death cases in the six years he was in homicide, and quickly became one of their lead instructors and public presenters.

Writers Homicide School
Pacifico was invited to speak to a group of fiction writers at a “Sisters in Crime” meeting in Pasadena, California. After this first writers group lecture, he was invited to several writing conferences and even at CBS Studios where he provided a two-hour keynote address on homicide investigations to a screenwriters group. Thus, “The Writers’ Homicide School” was born.

The Writers Homicide School has gained world-wide recognition receiving writers from as far away as Australia, Finland, Canada and Mexico, as well as writers from all across the United States who love hearing Pacifico tell them how real cops, conduct real investigations.

For any length of engagement, the event coordinator will need to provide a slideshow projector, screen, lapel microphone system and speakers and have the ability to connect the computer to the audio system as well. Depending on the event, there may be some minor additional needs that can be discussed during the booking process. Derek comes with his MacBook and coupling cables ready to plug and play.

Derek can entertain your audience as a keynote speaker for the typical 45 minutes or more, or your can book him for the any part of the whole Writers Homicide School up to and including the full two-day seminar!

The Writers Homicide School
Day One
9:00 - 10:00: Hiring and training of police officers, police rank structures
10:00 - 11:00: Criminal laws and definitions
11:00 - 12:00: Signs of death, gunshot wounds
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 - 2:00: Evidence, crime lab comparisons, impression evidence
2:00 - 3:00: Blood Spatter Interpretation - Introduction
3:00 - 4:00: Question and Answer

Day Two
9:00 - 10:00: Miranda Law
10:00 - 11:00: Introduction to Interview and Interrogation, Truth Baseline
11:00 - 12:00: Conducting an Interview, Body Language and Deception
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 - 2:00: Accusations, Denials and Confessions
2:00 - 3:00: Wrap up and Real Police Interrogation Video Critique
3:00 - 4:00: Question and Answer