Interview and Interrogation Training

Paul Francois is a retired lieutenant from the San Jose Police Department with 29 years of law enforcement experience. Paul’s previous assignments include: Patrol Watch Commander, Detective and Supervisor in the Physical Child Abuse Unit, Detective in the Sexual Assault Investigation Unit, Field Training Program Supervisor, and the Office of the Chief of Police in Research and Development. Paul has also received the Police Academy Instructor of the Year Award.

Enrique Garcia is a retired sergeant from the San Jose Police Department with almost 29 years of full-time law enforcement experience, plus 5 previous years in the Reserve Unit. Enrique worked assignments in Patrol and the Field Training Program as an officer and supervisor, Sexual Assaults, Homicide, Robbery, and the Office of the Chief of Police managing the Media Relations Unit. Enrique is a recognized Interview & Interrogation subject-matter expert for the State of California P.O.S.T. Commission. Enrique also received an Investigative Excellence Award from California P.O.S.T. – Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation for solving a complex homicide case.

Captain Brian K. Spears has been with the San Jose Police Department since 1997. He is formerly the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Commander as well as the Child Exploit Detail Supervisor. Brian is also a sworn member of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force. He has hosted and facilitated various law enforcement symposiums on child exploitation. In addition, Brian has served as a detective in Homicide, Assaults, and Financial Crimes.

Sgt. Rafael Varela has been with the San Jose Police Department since 1999. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from San Jose State University. Rafael is currently assigned as a patrol supervisor. He has worked assignments as a Robbery Detective, Task Force Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE), Special Operations METRO Unit and Patrol. Rafael received California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA) Narcotics Officer of the Year Award in 2012.

Will Manion is a retired Sergeant for the San Jose Police Department. Sgt. Manion started his police career in 1989 and in 27 years of service worked the Narcotic Enforcement Team, Merge (SWAT) Team, DEA Task Force, Homicide Detective and Airport Security Sergeant. Sgt. Manion received (7) major police awards including California Post Investigator of the year award for a Homicide Case where a convicted person was exonerated of a murder he did not commit. 

Sgt. Glenn Albin works for the San Jose Police Department and has been in law enforcement since 1997. He has held a variety of assignments including, Field Training Officer, Homicide Detective,  Reserve Officer Coordinator, Canine Handler, Undercover Narcotics Investigator and Training Instructor. As a detective, Officer Albin received the Outstanding Duty Award for his work on a Capitol Murder case. He is also a graduate of the POST Master Instructor Certification Course (MICC).

Matt Irvine worked as a Detective with the Glendale, California Police Department, investigating sex crimes and family violence before transferring to Robbery/Homicide.  He moved to the San Francisco District Attorney Bureau of Investigations, assigned to public corruption investigations.  Matt reached the rank of Lieutenant, overseeing the Public Corruption Task Force (with the FBI) and the investigation of officer-involved incidents.  After retiring from sworn service, Matt joined the Portland Police Bureau as a background investigator.  He currently works as a cold case sex crimes investigator.  Matt is a graduate of Columbia University, the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the FBI National Academy.

Sean Pritchard is a retired Sergeant for the San Jose Police Department. Sgt. Pritchard started his police career in 1995 and his 28 years of service included working the Metro/VCET Special Operations Unit, Homicide Investigations Detective and Sexual Assaults Investigations Detective. Sgt. Pritchard has investigated some of the most complex sexual assault and homicides including the largest Santa Clara County serial gang homicide case to date.