Writer's Detective Bureau

AI Bots and Ghost Guns

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

Bunco Crimes, Investigator Associations, Retired Cops, and POVs

Adam talks about bunco crime investigations, the value of belonging to investigator associations, the trope of retired cops being forced back to work for one last case, and a different kind of POV. Submit a question: writersdetective.com/ask

Cybercrime, Trap and Trace, and Concealed Carry

Adam talks about cybercrime investigations, how wiretap investigations involve "trap and trace" and "pen registers" tools, and how undercover detectives conceal their firearms. Submit your own question to the podcast: writersdetective.com/ask

Core Character Question, Celebrities, and An Unnoticed Serial Killer

The Writer's Detective Bureau podcast is BACK and now ad-free! Adam has retired from law enforcement and is back answering writers' questions. Adam shares a core character question that he contemplated at the end of his career that could inform how you plot a character arc. Adam then answers questions about celebrity-related investigations and an unnoticed serial killer. Submit a question for next week's episode: writersdetective.com/ask

Alcoholic Beverage Control, Military Murder Investigations, and Tribal Police

Adam answers questions about: California’s Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, who investigates murders involving the military, and the surprising limitation on Tribal Police law enforcement powers.

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

In this episode, Adam answers questions about investigating international crime rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, the difference between reactive and proactive investigations, and where prosecutions might happen for transnational RICO cases.

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

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 home, and how to conduct a cover-up.

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

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 notifications when an inmate is released from prison, confidential name changes, and violating protective orders.

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

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 poised to change the way we create and consume content. Then, we'll answer some of your writing questions, including the logistics of obtaining phone records in a homicide case and which agencies can use California state crime labs.

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

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 murder victim is found in a visiting world leader’s hotel room.

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

This week, Adam answers questions about financial crimes, how a detective could go about becoming a police chief in another state, and he explains what it means to be a percipient witness.

Undercover FBI, Prisoner Release, Pyromania, and Gun Types

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

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 enforcement. Transcript: writersdetective.com/129

US Marshal Task Forces, Warrant Time Restrictions, Good Faith

Interview with Matthew Gentile - Writer and Director of AMERICAN MURDERER

Adam interviews Matthew Gentile about writing and directing his new feature film, AMERICAN MURDERER. This true-crime inspired movie stars Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, and Jackie Weaver. Watch it now on iTunes, Amazon Video, or any other on-demand rental service.

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

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 Investigation, the ramifications of a detective lying about immunity to a witness, and how police might obtain Ring doorbell footage.

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

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

Register for Adam's upcoming writing workshop on Detective Character Mindset & Motivation. writersdetective.com/workshop In this episode, Adam talks about a cold-ish case scenario, civilian jobs in law enforcement, and how arrests made outside of your local jurisdiction are handled...plus some advice on writing for streaming services.

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

Adam talks about sketching a crime scene, how immigration status violations were handled in California circa 1995, and what would happen if a journalist went trespassing to get the scoop on a major crime.

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

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 with the phone company on investigations in the 1950s and 60s. writersdetective.com/122

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

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

Adam talks about investigating false allegations made against a detective, what would happen if Alphabet Soup feds barged in to take possession of a decedent, and the realities of investigating the remains of someone that died sixty or seventy years ago. writersdetective.com/120 writersdetective.com/ukraine

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

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 serve on a jury, and how reviewing this podcast on Podchaser.com can raise money for ChefsForUkraine during the #Reviews4Good campaign. writersdetective.com/119

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

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 he talks about the various investigative units and their divisions. writersdetective.com/118

Fusion Centers, Brady List, and Teletypes

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

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

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

20BooksVegas, Missing Teenagers and Murder

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