Overview
IA investigations are the most scrutinized process in any department — and among the most regulated. Department policy, city and county rules, state law, and officer rights statutes all govern how these investigations must be conducted. Every decision is watched — by the officer, the union, administration, the courts, and the community. Get the process wrong and everyone pays for it. Get it right and the process does what it is supposed to do: find the truth, apply the rules fairly, and reach a conclusion that holds.
Third Degree Training founded the first private-sector Internal Affairs training in the Western States in 2013. We built the original course and have refined it every year since, working with IA investigators, command staff, union leaders, and officer representatives across the United States. We know this landscape from every angle — because we train every angle.
What separates this course is the legal day. We partner with each state’s top police defense law firm or SME attorney to dedicate a full day to current case law — POBR, Garrity, Lybarger, officer rights, parallel investigations, and defensible findings. No other IA training in the country does this. It is the day that changes what every person at the table understands about how these investigations must be conducted.
We are not advocates for administration or for the union. We are advocates for process done right — thorough investigations, protected rights, and conclusions that hold up to scrutiny from every direction.
Four Sides of the Table: The Officer. Administration. The Union. The Attorney. IA investigations are highly regulated — department policy, city and county rules, and state law all require process to be followed precisely. When all four sides understand the same standards and the same law, the process works the way it is supposed to — less friction, stronger investigations, protected rights, defensible conclusions.
This is a three-day, 24-hour course — the most comprehensive IA training available in the Western States. Here’s how it is structured:
- IA Foundations & Investigation Process: Organization, function, attitude, complaint intake, initial assessment, complainant interviews, evidence identification, witness interviews, and the full case management framework from complaint through adjudication.
- Interview Planning, Officer Rights & Report Writing: Identifying witness vs. subject officers, preparing IA-specific interview questions, conducting officer interviews, navigating POA rep interactions, writing defensible IA reports, and managing special investigations.
- Full Day — Police Defense Attorney: Case Law & Legal Standards: A complete day with top police defense law firm attorneys. POBR history, purpose, and application. Garrity and Lybarger admonitions. Officer rights in criminal vs. administrative investigations. Parallel investigation management. Statute of limitations. Pre-interrogation discovery. Findings, disposition, and confidentiality of personnel records. This is the day that separates this course from every other IA training available.
IA investigations are the departments solve culture applied to the institution itself. Not solving crimes — solving the barriers that undermine trust, accountability, and the department’s ability to function at its best. A well-run IA process protects the good officer from a bad complaint, holds the officer who crossed the line accountable, and shows the community that the department polices itself with the same rigor it brings to everything else. That process has to be correct. That’s what this course teaches
Who Should Attend
This course is built for everyone who touches an IA investigation — on any side of the table. Law enforcement, union leadership, legal counsel, private sector investigators, and government oversight all operate within the same regulatory framework. All four sides benefit from training on the same standards at the same time.
Law Enforcement — Investigators & Command
- IA Investigators & IA Commanders
- Sergeants & Lieutenants
- Chiefs, Sheriffs & Police Managers
- Patrol Supervisors
- Internal Affairs Support Staff
Private Sector IA Investigators
- Private investigators conducting IA-style investigations
- Corporate & workplace investigators
- Law firm investigators handling police defense cases
- Risk management investigators
- Insurance & compliance investigators
Union & Legal
- Union Leaders & Union Representatives
- Police defense attorneys
- City & County attorneys advising on IA matters
- HR investigators with IA responsibilities
- City/County Risk Management
Government & Oversight
- Police auditors
- DA office investigators
- State agency investigators
- Correctional & jail administrators
Note on Private Sector Investigators:
Private investigators and law firm investigators conducting or supporting IA-style investigations face the same regulatory obligations as sworn personnel — often without the institutional training that sworn investigators receive. This course gives them the same foundation.
Seminar Highlights
IA Foundations & Case Management
- IA organization, unit function, and investigative approach
- Complaint intake, initial assessment, and case classification
- Identifying and obtaining evidence
- Witness interviews and complainant interviews
- Interacting with police auditors and civilian oversight
Officer Interviews & Report Writing
- Identifying witness vs. subject officers
- Preparing and conducting IA-specific officer interviews
- Navigating POA rep and attorney interactions
- Writing complete, defensible IA investigation reports
- Special investigations and internal affairs management
Officer Rights & Due Process
- POBR — history, purpose, and practical application
- Garrity and Lybarger admonitions — when and how they apply
- Criminal vs. administrative investigations — parallel processes and critical distinctions
- On-duty vs. off-duty misconduct and nexus issues
- 1-year statute of limitations and pre-interrogation discovery
- Consequences and remedies for Bill of Rights violations
Legal Standards — Full Day with Police Defense Counsel
- Current case law governing IA investigations
- Just cause for discipline — standards and application
- Probationary vs. permanent employee rights
- Final disposition, findings, and personnel record confidentiality
- Appeal processes and promotional demotion issues
The IA Close
- Findings and recommendations — the four possible dispositions
- Building a defensible conclusion
- Final investigation report standards
- Inspecting and responding to personnel file materials
Course Agenda
Instructors
Testimonials
Very informative class. Love his realness and sense of humor.
Anonymous Author
June 2026, IA
What I liked best was the simplified IA process and POBR understanding — focus on the most important aspects and where issues arise, then provide recommendations.
Anonymous Author
June 2–4, 2026, IA / Sunnyvale
Open communication, experienced, talented, and passionate instructor. His perspective and instructions highlighted and hammered home the course material.
Anonymous Author
June 2026, Internal Affairs
What I liked best was that the Instructor has a wealth of knowledge and many very relevant examples.
Jill
Santa Clara Co. Probation
What I liked best was the great breakdown of POBR and legal issues.
Aaron
SJPD
What I liked best was gaining a much better working knowledge of POBR. The Instructor presented very enthusiastically, which kept the class engaged.
Juan
SDPS
What I liked best about this class were the Instructor's personal stories related to actual incidents.
Tim
Sunnyvale
The legal aspect of IA Investigations is extremely important in these investigations. I learned a lot from this portion of the class. Excellent class, instructor and quality of information.
C. Barboza
Salinas PD
What I liked best about this class was the case study the Instructor provided. It was very obvious just how qualified the Instructor is, so each lesson taught was thoroughly explained. The Instructor was also able to answer every question. Very enjoyable course. After learning the process of an IA investigation, it was very helpful to hear from an attorney with many years of experience who represents LE officers in both criminal and administration investigations. After hearing from the Instructor, his portion of the class became paramount to understanding IA investigations from opposing sides.
Cameron
Alameda Co. SO
One of the best classes a supervisor in law enforcement can take. The Instructor is the foremost authority in our area/state whose knowledge is second to none.
Jon
Sunnyvale DPS
Attorney Mike Rains is the man! Super knowledgeable and entertaining speaker. Both instructors did a great job of trying to make the subject interesting and engaging.
Oscar
Santa Maria PD
What I liked best about this class was that the Instructor is a fantastic and knowledgeable communicator. You can tell the Instructor is passionate about this subject and speaks with clarity and authority. Excellent portion of the class and very informative.
Josh
Santa Maria PD
What I liked best was a lot of class discussion and an easy instructor to talk to.
Brenda
DSH-A
What I liked best was that the subject matter is practical without a lot of 'fluff.' It is necessary info that was direct and to the point.
Anonymous Author
April 2026, IA / Paso Robles
What I liked best was that the examples were helpful and the group work assisted with real world application.
Cragen
Cal Poly Maritime PD
What I liked best was the group brainstorming and discussions — this allowed us to hear different points of view. The practical case investigation was great to work through. The IA course is informative and provides the basic tools and knowledge to handle an internal affairs investigation.
Breyon Canel
San Benito SO
What I liked best was that the group exercises were intentional and very well-thought out. Excellent overview with practical group exercises that drove key points home.
Evan Raleigh
Santa Monica PD
What I liked best was the great discussions from hypothetical scenarios and the good learning from real world examples. The instructor did a great job presenting this material in a manner which kept students engaged and awake.
Jean Prence
Paso Robles Police
What I liked best was the group brainstorming and discussions — this allowed us to hear different points of view. The practical case investigation was great to work through. The IA course is informative and provides the basic tools and knowledge to handle an internal affairs investigation.
Breyon Canel
San Benito SO
What I liked best about this class was the case study the Instructor provided. It was very obvious just how qualified the Instructor is, so each lesson taught was thoroughly explained. The Instructor was also able to answer every question. Very enjoyable course. After learning the process of an IA investigation, it was very helpful to hear from an attorney with many years of experience who represents LE officers in both criminal and administration investigations. After hearing from the Instructor, his portion of the class became paramount to understanding IA investigations from opposing sides.
Cameron
Alameda Co. SO
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