2 day seminar

Search, Seizure & Warrants

If You Can’t Get the Warrant, You Can’t Make the Case.

Duration
2 days - 16 hours
Certification
CA P.O.S.T. Plan
Format
In Person

Overview

Constitutional policing starts with knowing what you can legally search, seize, and secure — and having the skill to write a warrant that holds up in court. Patrol officers and investigators write real warrants in class, guided by instructors who have authored and presented hundreds of them across every type of investigation.

The Fundamentals of SS & SW Haven’t Changed Much. Everything Else Has.

The 4th Amendment is the anchor. But today’s investigations reach far beyond homes, cars, and paper files. Cell phones, cloud storage, Ring cameras, cell tower records, geo-location pings, and social media have changed what officers need to know — and what they need to write. Every platform, every carrier, every data source has its own legal standard, its own retention window, and its own response process. Miss the window and the evidence is gone. Write the warrant wrong and it’s thrown out.

Warrant Writing Is a Solve Culture Skill.

An officer who can investigate but can’t author a warrant is an officer who is capped. The ability to write a sound warrant — on patrol, mid-investigation, or on a complex case — is one of the clearest markers separating good cops from excellent ones. This training equips every level of officer to operate with legal confidence and close more cases.

Agencies Are Evolving — So Should Your Team.

Forward-thinking agencies are now training non-sworn personnel — analysts, civilian investigators, and CSOs — to prepare warrant documents that sworn officers review and present. This course is built for both sworn and non-sworn audiences, making it a high-value investment for any agency serious about increasing case closure.

Who Should Attend

This course reaches further than most people expect. Whether you’re a first-year patrol officer or a civilian analyst supporting a detective unit, if your work touches evidence, investigations, or legal documents — this training is for you.

Sworn Personnel

  • Patrol Officers & First Responders
  • Detectives & Investigators
  • Gang, Narcotics & Special Victims Investigators
  • Internal Affairs Investigators
  • Probation & Parole Officers
  • Correctional & Jail Investigators
  • Fire Investigators
  • Medical Examiner / Coroner Investigators

Non-Sworn & Civilian Personnel

  • Crime Analysts
  • Community Service Officers (CSOs)
  • Civilian Investigators
  • Records & Administrative Staff supporting warrant preparation
  • Child Abuse & Social Services Investigators (APS, CPS, DFCS)
  • Anyone whose role involves preparing, reviewing, or supporting legal documents in an investigative capacity

Course Details

  • Duration: 2 Full Training Days
  • Hours: 16 Hours | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Audience: Patrol Officers, Detectives, Investigators & Civilian Personnel
  • Format: Lecture, Case Study & Practical Exercises
  • Materials: Course Workbook & Reference Guides
  • Certification: Agency-Ready Training Documentation
  • CA P.O.S.T.: Plan N/A | Certification #1126-22272
  • Location: Regional & On-Site Options Available

Seminar Highlights

  • 4th Amendment & Legal Requirements — The constitutional foundation of every lawful search and seizure — and the civil rights stakes of getting it wrong.
  • Warrantless Searches & Motor Vehicle Exceptions — When you can legally act without a warrant and how to document it to survive court scrutiny.
  • CalECPA / PC 1546 & Digital Devices — California’s digital privacy law decoded — phones, computers, cloud storage, and the steps required before you access any of it.
  • Authoring a Sound Warrant — Components & Terminology — Every element a judge needs to see, written in the language that wins approval.
  • Special Circumstances: Hobbs, Seal Orders & Special Masters — Navigating high-sensitivity warrants that require additional legal steps.
  • Presenting to a Judge: Paper, Electronic & Telephonic — How to present your warrant confidently in any format — including middle-of-the-night telephonic presentations.
  • Ramey, Steagald & Geo-Locate Warrants — Arrest warrants, third-party locations, and the evolving world of cellular and geo-location evidence.
  • Practical Warrant Writing Exercise — Students write real search warrants from a mock homicide scenario, reviewed and debriefed as a group.

Course Agenda

DAY ONE
DAY TWO

Instructors

Daniel Perez
Search, Seizure & Search Warrant Instructor
View Bio
Daniel Perez
Daniel Perez has over 15 years of law enforcement experience and currently serves as Lieutenant at the Kern County District Attorney's Office, Bureau of Investigations. Daniel started his law enforcement career at the Kern County Sheriff's Office in 2005 and was assigned to Court Services, Uniformed Patrol, the Gang Unit, the Homicide Unit, the Internal Affairs Unit, and the Watch Lieutenant Section. In 2023, he joined the District Attorney's Office as a Senior Investigator and is now a Lieutenant leading the Criminal Division. Over his career, he has qualified as a gang, narcotics, and cellular phone expert, and has held leadership roles in the Gang Unit, Homicide Unit, and Internal Affairs Unit.‍ Daniel graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in History. He is passionate about teaching other peace officers and teaches several topics for POST/STC academy classes in Kern County and Advanced Officer School.
Jesse Harker
Search, Seizure & Search Warrant Instructor
View Bio
Jesse Harker
Jesse Harker has been with the Kern County Sheriff's Office since 2008. In 2016, Jesse promoted to Senior Deputy, where he began handling complex sexual assault investigations in the Bakersfield Metropolitan area. In 2018, he was assigned to the Investigations Division as a Homicide Detective. With Kern County consistently holding one of the highest homicide rates per capita in California, Jesse has led the investigations of numerous homicides of varying nature, as well as several officer-involved shootings. He has also served as an officer-involved shooting instructor for the Kern County Sheriff's Office. These assignments gave him substantial experience in authoring search warrants and deep knowledge of search and seizure law. His previous assignments include Patrol Deputy and Field Training Officer.

Testimonials

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was the practical application for the various warrants. Danny was very knowledgeable and attentive to our needs and questions throughout the entire class.

A. Luna

Stanislaus CO

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was that it was not 'death by powerpoint' — the case studies made the class interesting. The instructor made the class fun and not boring compared to other classes.

Omar

Tracy PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was that the instructor was very engaging and offered real-world stories that brought the material to life. Great instructor.

Zach

EGPD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was how interactive Danny was — I never felt bored during the class. This class was great and I would recommend it to anyone trying to be a detective.

Carlos

Elk Grove PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

Real-life experience and case studies helped me grasp the concepts presented. The instructor did a great job of explaining the material, and it was clear from the start that he has real expertise in the subject matter.

Anonymous Author

May 2026, Search/Seizure Warrants

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was learning about the warrant variations and how to build information packages for the warrants. Solid class if you want to get into investigations and want to learn how to build strong warrants.

Matt

Elk Grove PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I really liked were the case studies and hearing the instructor's expertise — both made the material come alive.

Anonymous Author

May 2026, Search/Seizure/Search Warrants, Rocklin

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was watching real-life videos (body cams) and determining what, if any, warrants could be issued. I also found it very helpful that Perez was very patient and very willing to help writing the practice warrants. I really enjoyed Perez's positive attitude in teaching new officers like myself how to write a warrant effectively by using the Hobbs.

Padvir

Berkeley PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was learning about Hobbs and how to make my warrants bullet proof. Great class, relaxed environment, great material.

Shannon

Alameda PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was the instructor's first-hand knowledge and experience. The PowerPoint with real search warrant templates will be very helpful going forward.

Jordan

Rocklin PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

The instructor was very knowledgeable, and the real cases and current information provided made the material directly applicable to the job.

Anonymous Author

May 2026, Search Warrants / Rocklin

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best about this class was learning about the warrant process — and the class and instructor were awesome!

Andre

Vacaville PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was watching real-life videos (body cams) and determining what, if any, warrants could be issued. I also found it very helpful that the instructor was very patient and very willing to help writing the practice warrants. I really enjoyed his positive attitude in teaching new officers like myself how to write a warrant effectively by using the Hobbs.

Padvir

Berkeley PD

Five Stars
Search, Seizure & Warrants

What I liked best was learning about Hobbs and how to make my warrants bullet proof. Great class, relaxed environment, great material.

Shannon

Alameda PD

What I liked best were the videos, and the information regarding Miranda was especially valuable. This class is awesome — I think you need to push very hard to make SJPD make this interview and interrogation course mandatory for officers and detectives around the 3+ year mark. Preliminary investigations would be so much more successful and beneficial to BOI investigators. This is an excellent course.
What I liked best were the Miranda scenarios and discussions. The Instructors are professionals who have more combined experience than most agencies. They are passionate about this subject and make the course and material fun. I feel like you could take this class 100 times and still learn something new each time.
Matt and Will are some of the best instructors I've had the opportunity to train with: genuine, forthright, concise, and they can back it all up with experience. My second course with them, and I can't wait for a third!
What I liked best was the wide variety of fraud-related examples and the proper procedures for investigating them — and it was not Death by PowerPoint. This course is perfect for new detectives and patrol officers wanting to learn more about fraud investigations.
What I liked best was watching real-life videos (body cams) and determining what, if any, warrants could be issued. I also found it very helpful that the instructor was very patient and very willing to help with writing the practice warrants. I really enjoyed his positive attitude in teaching new officers like myself how to write a warrant effectively by using the Hobbs.
Your class was one of the most impactful trainings I've attended. I learned new skills, best practices, and had a few revelations about myself. Your level of preparation, commitment, and professionalism was excellent.