Writer's Detective Bureau

AI Bots and Ghost Guns

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about AI bots, the future of the Writer's Detective Bureau, and ghost guns. 

Bunco Crimes, Investigator Associations, Retired Cops, and POVs

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about bunco crime investigations, the value of belonging to investigator associations, the trope of retired cops being forced back to work ...

Cybercrime, Trap and Trace, and Concealed Carry

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about cybercrime investigations, how wiretap investigations involve "trap and trace" and "pen registers" tools, and how undercover detectiv...

Core Character Question, Celebrities, and An Unnoticed Serial Killer

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Writer's Detective Bureau podcast is BACK and now ad-free!  Adam has retired from law enforcement and is back answering writers' questions.  Ada...

Alcoholic Beverage Control, Military Murder Investigations, and Tribal Police

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers questions about: California's Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, who investigates murders involving the military, and the surprising limi...

International Crime Rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, Proactive Investigations, and Transnational RICO Cases

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam answers questions about investigating international crime rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, the difference between reactive a...

DA Investigators, Warrantless Arrests in the Home, and Cover-Ups

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about a DA Investigator moving over to a police department as a detective, the legalities of making a warrantless arrest inside a suspect's...

Threads App, Life Insurance Lookups, VINELink, Confidential Name Changes, Restraining Order Violations

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about the new THREADS app, whether detectives can find out if someone is listed as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, victim notific...

WGA Strike, Mini Rooms, AI, Phone Warrant in a Homicide, and California Crime Labs

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we dive into the ongoing WGA strike. We'll also explore the role of artificial intelligence in writing and storytelling, and how it's...

Federal Inmate Escapes, Hawaiian Floaters, and a Foreign Leader Murder Suspect

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we are talking about what happens when a federal inmate escapes from prison, a body in Hawaiian waters, who handles the investigation if a m...

Disaster Fraud, Moving to a New State, and Percipient Witnesses

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Adam answers questions about financial crimes, how a detective could go about becoming a police chief in another state, and he explains wha...

Undercover FBI, Prisoner Release, Pyromania, and Gun Types

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers questions about a fictional FBI undercover story involving a prisoner release, pyromania, and gun types.

Why Choose to be a Detective -and- Martial Arts in Law Enforcement

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we do a deep dive into why your character might want to be a police detective. Plus, I talk about police batons and martial arts in law enf...

US Marshal Task Forces, Warrant Time Restrictions, Good Faith

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Interview with Matthew Gentile - Writer and Director of AMERICAN MURDERER

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam interviews Matthew Gentile about writing and directing his new feature film, AMERICAN MURDERER.  This true-crime inspired movie stars Tom Pelphr...

UK vs. US CSI, Lying about Immunity, Ring Doorbell Footage

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Writer's Detective Bureau is now also a video podcast on YouTube. In this episode, Adam talks about the differences between UK and US Crime Scene ...

Exonerations, Getting SWAT to a Victim, and Legalities of Eavesdropping

31 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about exonerations after perjury, getting to a downed victim during a SWAT call, and the legalities of eavesdropping with a room bug.

Cold-ish Case, Civilians in LE, and Arrests Made Outside of Jurisdiction

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Register for Adam's upcoming writing workshop on Detective Character Mindset & Motivation. writersdetective.com/workshop In this episode, Adam talks ...

Sketching a Crime Scene, Immigration in 1995, and Trespassing to get the Scoop

19 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about sketching a crime scene, how immigration status violations were handled in California circa 1995, and what would happen if a journali...

Inside Dispatch, Moving a Morgue, and Getting Investigative Help from Ma Bell

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about how 9-1-1 calls get dispatched over the police radio, what would happen if the morgue becomes unusable, and how detectives worked wit...

Complaining About Paperwork, Fatal Hit & Run Investigations, and Suspect Extraditions

23 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam complains about his least favorite bureaucratic paperwork and then talks about fatal hit & run investigations and suspect extraditions.

Investigating False Accusations, Alphabet Soup Body Snatchers, and Investigating Decades-Old Remains

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about investigating false allegations made against a detective, what would happen if Alphabet Soup feds barged in to take possession of a d...

Personal Ties to a Homicide, Chalk Outlines, Jury Duty for Cops, and ChefsForUkraine

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about what happens if a homicide detective has personal ties to a homicide victim, if chalk outlines are really used, whether cops can serv...

Coroner Inquests, Small Town Sheriff or Police Chief, and different Investigative Divisions

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam explains what a Coroner's Inquest is and why inquests aren't used much anymore, the difference between a small-town Sheriff and Police Chief, and...

Fusion Centers, Brady List, and Teletypes

19 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam explains what DHS Fusion Centers do, what a Brady List is and how to use them in your writing, and we go old school tech with Teletypes.

Home Invasion Robberies, Environmental Crimes, and Computer Forensics

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

New Years Day 2022, Finding Last Wills, Historical Policing Questions from 1912 and 1980s

02 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Stake Outs, Closing Cases, Writer's Detective School, and 20BooksVegas Debrief

28 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

20BooksVegas, Missing Teenagers and Murder

07 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Exigent v. Extenuating, Green Lasers, and Gang Association Warrants

24 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Money Laundering & Gun Trafficking, Main Character Innocence, and As You Like It

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Search Warrant Walk-Through, Pinging a Missing Person's Phone, and California Arson Investigations

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rainy Day Vehicle CSI, White-Collar Murder, and Writer Outreach to Law Enforcement

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Interview with Marc Cameron - NYT Bestselling Author and Chief Deputy US Marshal

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

SWAT Snipers, White Collar Crimes, and Consent for Autopsies

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Attaching Double Jeopardy, Forensic Artists, and that Bloodhound Story

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Inmate Testimony, Drug Labs, and Drone Flights

31 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about transporting an inmate from federal custody to testify in state court, creating realistic clandestine drug lab scenes, and the realit...

Finding Addresses, Detective Caseloads, and Duty Assignments

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lost Person Behavior, a Rogue Investigation, and the Difference between Probation and Parole

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Internal Affairs, Hold-Backs, and PSD Work

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fingerprints, Vigilantes, Fiction Writing, and Technical Advising

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

ONE HUNDRED

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Partial License Plates, Manner of Death, and the Peter Principle

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Missing In a Blizzard, Rapid DNA, and Sexual Assault Investigations

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Old Crime Scenes, Cellphone Location Tracking, Investigating a Child Death, and Police Reform

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vehicle Tampering Clues, Trademarks, Notice of Warrant Service

23 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Writer's Detective Bureau - Trailer

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Areas of Responsibility, Nolle Prosequi, and GPS Tracking

01 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Finding Digital Evidence, Elicitation of Detectives, and RP Statements

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Minimum Staffing, Insider Trading, and TECS

05 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

SWAT Teams, FBI Offices, and Cocaine Production

27 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Black Lives Matter

02 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Investigating a Murder of One of Your Own, Filming Props, and Testimony Dialogue

23 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cellphone Photos, Real-Life Red Herrings, and Courthouse Waiting Rooms

10 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Writer's Detective's Fifth Birthday, Police Firearms, and Protecting a Victim

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sex Registrants, Trust Issues, and Re-Interviewing a Witness

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Newhall Incident, Undercover Reasoning, and 3rd Party Justifiable Homicide

07 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

MasksForDocs, Inmate Release After Acquittal, and CSI the TV Show

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

StayHomeWriMo, Public Health, DEA Cases, and more Counter-Surveillance

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Medicolegal Death Investigators and Swatting

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Interview Dialogue and a Cozy Missing Person turned Murder Mystery

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded in a wiretap, What gets kept as Evidence, and Counter-surveillance

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Experience is the Greatest Teacher, Prosecuting a Serial Killer, and Federal Supervised Release

23 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Privatizing the Police, Driving Philosophy of Law Enforcement, and Sucking Chest Wounds

15 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Security Clearances, Task Forces, and FBI RAs

09 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Quarantine, Narcotics Case Jurisdiction, and SAR

02 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sgt. Patrick O'Donnell of Cops and Writers

26 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sanctuary, Off-Sites, and the Day After

19 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

FlowersAndForensics, Seeing the Judge, and Knock & Notice

12 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Adam gives you a tip on a great new forensic science resource and answers questions about getting a warrant signed by a judge and the realities of kno...

Items in Evidence, Assessing Urgency, and Police Radio Encryption

05 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about whether a search warrant is needed to seize evidence from another police agency's evidence room, assessing urgency, and the realitie...

One Free Phone Call from Jail, Video Evidence, and Inmate Release Notifications

03 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers your questions about: your one free phone call from jail, obtaining video evidence, and notifying victims of an offender's release from c...

Transgender Protagonists, Inside Man, and Romance Undercover

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers your questions about: how human resources at a police department would handle confidentiality of a transgender employee, poking plot hole...

Boot, Deconfliction, and Pending Further Leads

01 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about being on field training as a trainee police officer, how inter-agency deconfliction works for narcotics investigations, and what p...

Justified Shootings, FBI Arrests, and Calling for Back-Up

24 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers your questions about: an investigation into a justified shooting, where FBI books their arrestees, and calling for back-up. A transcript...

20BooksVegas, POIs and UNSUBs, and Wiretap Technicalities

17 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about the 20BooksVegas conference and answers questions about police acronyms and slang like POI and UNSUB, as well as the more technical ...

Hate Crimes, Proactive Investigations, and Island Time of Death

10 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers your questions about what constitutes a hate crime, how to use search warrants in a proactive investigation where a crime hasn't occurred...

SMEs, Red Dot Lasers, and Approaching Suspects

02 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers your questions about the role subject matter experts play in an investigation, the real purpose behind those red dot lasers sights for f...

The Ripoff Episode

26 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This short episode covers burglary investigations. Transcript available at writersdetective.com/65

Preptober, FBI Consultants, and SWAT Standoffs

19 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm talking about preparation for NaNoWriMo, the State of the Bureau, creating an FBI Consultant as a character, and the role of a hostage n...

Inside a Crime Scene, Search Warrant Limitations, and Criminal Appeals

13 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam covers what it really feels like inside a crime scene, the limits of a search warrant, and some clarification on cold cases and criminal appeals...

Ruses, Brought In For Questioning, and Recording Gaps

06 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers writers' questions about when cops ARE allowed to lie, what it really means when you're brought in for questioning, and what happens when...

Firearms Qualifications, Exceptional Means, and OODA Loops

28 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about firearms qualifications for police officers, when your suspect is terminally ill, and what the heck OODA means. Transcript available:...

Bad Cops, Romantic Complications, and Interview Rapport

22 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks about how to write about bad cops, romantic complications between a detective and a victim, and some hack for building rapport during an in...

Career-Long Fitness, Amateur Sleuths, and the Future of Policing

14 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Exigent Circumstances, Becoming a PI, and Confidential Informants

06 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Victim Visas, One-Way Mirrors, and HIDTA

01 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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U.S. Marshals, the CIA, and Being Taken Downtown

24 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Being Held Without Charges, Stalking, and Desk Pops?

18 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Physical Agility, Foreign Nationals, and Missing Children - 054

10 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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One Year Anniversary, Undercover Part II, License Plate Records, and Drug Money - 053

03 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Foreign Language Interviews, Long-term Undercover Investigations, and Witness Protection - 052

27 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Occult Killings, Private Eyes, and Releasing a Crime Scene - 051

20 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Therapy, Overdose, and a Veiled Threat - 050

13 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Mass Shooting Aftermath, Partners, Inside a Detective Office - 049

06 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Bio-Terrorism, State Level Investigations, and Having Your Back to the Door - 048

29 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Character Arc, Detective Sergeant Demotion, and Sex Offenders - 047

22 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Female Suspects, Writing Research, and Police Cars - 046

15 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Interviewed by Joanna at The Creative Penn - 045

08 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Vehicle Searches, Case Law, and Org Charts - 044

01 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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Dictating Reports, Domestic Violence , and The Third Degree - 043

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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