Getting the Truth from Investigatory Interviews - Strategy, Training and Closure

Why Should You Attend:

In response to an allegation of wrongdoing, or when conducting a proactive inquiry, persons responsible for reaching a successful conclusion to the matter will more than likely have to interview a variety of individuals. These individuals may include victims, complainants, whistleblowers, witnesses, possible witnesses, information providers, and suspects. It is critical that the person charged with conducting the investigation develop an investigative strategy, which includes who to interview and in what order the interviews should take place. In addition, to reach the interview objective of getting to the truth, the interviewer must understand why a particular individual needs to be interviewed and what questions need to be asked.

An investigator must realize that interviewees, even if they are not suspected of wrongdoing, will not always be truthful or forthcoming in their responses. The interviewer must formulate properly phrased questions so as best to evaluate the response for truthfulness or deception. The interviewer must be prepared to lead the interviewee down the path to providing the truth.

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Developing an interview strategy (who to interview and when)
• Understanding the different categories of interviewees and their role in the matter under investigation
• Preparing relevant topic/questions lists for each interviewee
• How to begin an interview and build rapport
• Formulating properly phrased questions to provide the interviewee the best opportunity to respond truthfully or in a manner that their deceptiveness is easily identified.
• Assessing for truth or deception by evaluating verbal and nonverbal responses to questions
• Asking properly phrased follow-up questions that will eventually lead to the truth

Who Will Benefit:

• Individuals conducting investigations
• Fraud examiners
• Internal investigators
• Attorneys
• Internal and external auditors
• Compliance and ethics managers
• Security personnel
• Loss prevention personnel
• HR generalists and HR associates
• Those in non-HR jobs who have investigatory responsibilities

Instructor Profile:

John E. Grimes III has over 45 years of progressive law enforcement, criminal investigation, fraud examination, loss prevention, leadership, and teaching experience. He began his career with the Baltimore City Police Department where he became a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). He left Baltimore and became a special agent with the newly created Amtrak Police Department Fraud and Organized Crime Unit. He was then promoted to captain of the CID. In 1993, Mr. Grimes joined the Amtrak Office of Inspector General/Office of Investigations. He was appointed chief inspector in 1999 and retired from service in 2011. Since his retirement his efforts have focused on education, training, and mentoring. He is an adjunct instructor at Stevenson University teaching graduate level courses in forensic interviewing and fraud examination. He is an advisory committee member for the Center for Forensic Excellence at Stevenson University. He is also on the Stevenson University Forensic Advisory Board.

In addition, Mr. Grimes is the proprietor of Fraud and Loss Prevention Solutions. He developed and taught an introductory loss prevention course for Blue Ridge CC in NC. Additionally, he has been a speaker, presenter, and trainer at many ACFE events, as well as government, private, and professional organizations. Mr. Grimes is the immediate past president of the Maryland Chapter-ACFE. During his term as president, the Maryland Chapter was the honored recipient of the 2015 ACFE Chapter of the Year Award. He has been a Certified Fraud Examiner since 1997. He is also recognized as a Certified Forensic Interviewer by the Center for Interview Standards and Assessments, Ltd. Mr. Grimes is a member of the Reid Institute and the Loss Prevention Foundation. He was a former staff officer with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary where he was recognized as an instructor specialist and a marine safety and environmental protection specialist.

Topic Background:

Investigators must obtain information in order to investigate. Investigative information is gleaned from a variety of sources. For example: documents, computers, cell phones, trace evidence, and people. Some investigators are adept at examining documents looking for clues in pursuit of the investigation. Others have special skills in conducting computer searches and utilizing data analytics to identify anomalies. Trace evidence is examined by specially trained forensic criminalist. And others are talented at human interaction and have learned and developed legally acceptable, ethical techniques to obtain information from people. As of today, and for the foreseeable future, it is people who commit crimes, witness crimes, and have information concerning crimes. Documents and computers (at least for now) do not commit crimes. It is all about people. It is important to understand that not everybody you need to talk to is a suspect.

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