Training Courses

NCJTC Death Investigation Academy

Date & Time:
  • September 20, 2027 – September 24, 2027
Location:
Bellevue, NE

This comprehensive five-day academy is designed to equip investigators with the knowledge and practical skills needed to conduct thorough death investigations across various circumstances and origins. Participants will explore investigative methodologies applicable to different types of deaths and learn to work effectively with medical examiners, crime laboratories, and other critical resources.

What You'll Learn

Throughout the program, you will develop competency in several key areas:

  • Implementing advanced techniques for coordinating and conducting death investigations
  • Analyzing different categories of deaths and applying specialized investigative approaches to each
  • Conducting effective interviews and interrogations related to death cases
  • Collaborating with medical examiners and utilizing autopsy findings in investigations
  • Assessing crime scenes, gathering evidence, and managing cases systematically
  • Investigating deaths involving drugs, children, infants, and equivocal circumstances
  • Understanding digital evidence and timeline analysis in death investigations
  • Managing major case investigations and cold case files
  • Preparing cases for prosecution and courtroom testimony

Who Should Attend

This academy is ideal for law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, forensic service units, coroners, and medical examiners seeking to enhance their death investigation capabilities.

Training Details

Dates: September 20-24, 2027

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM each day, with one-hour lunch breaks

Location: Bellevue Fire Training Facility, 3100 SP Benson Drive, Bellevue, NE 68147

Cost: $650.00 (includes 40 hours of instruction, course materials, and training resources; meals, travel, and lodging are the responsibility of participants)

Registration Deadline: August 16, 2027

Instructors

The academy is led by experienced professionals in death investigation and forensics:

James Holmes – Special Agent (Ret.), Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation. With law enforcement certification since 1995, Jim brings extensive experience in major crimes, homicide investigations, equivocal deaths, officer-involved critical incidents, cold case investigations, and cases involving child exploitation and abuse.

Matt Bell – Lieutenant, Milwaukee Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau Homicide Unit. Matt holds degrees in Criminal Justice from Carroll University and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He brings over 20 years of experience in homicide investigation, crime scene processing, interviewing and interrogation, crisis negotiation, and has trained detectives across the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team. He regularly provides expert courtroom testimony and consults nationally on critical incident response.

Patrick Eller – President & CEO, Metadata Forensics LLC and Senior Digital Forensic Examiner. Patrick is a nationally recognized digital forensics professional with more than 25 years of investigative experience, including service with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. He has led digital forensic programs, taught at university level, and provided specialized instruction to the National Forensics Academy and the International Homicide Investigators Association.

Venue and Lodging

Training will be held at the Bellevue Fire Training Facility. Several hotel options are available nearby:

  • Comfort Inn & Suites Bellevue-Omaha, 2105 Pratt Avenue, Bellevue, NE 68123
  • Courtyard by Marriott Omaha Bellevue, 3730 Raynor Parkway, Bellevue, NE 68123
  • Hampton Inn Bellevue, 3404 Samson Way, Bellevue, NE 68123
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bellevue (Omaha Area), 10804 S 15th Street, Bellevue, NE 68123

Additional Information

For information regarding continuing education units, please consult the NCJTC policies page. Past participants have praised the academy for the instructors' passion and expertise, noting that they gained practical knowledge and strategies applicable to their field work, including improved confidence in handling challenging death investigation scenarios.