Social Media Research OSINT Training

NOTE: Many Law Enforcement Agencies now require webcams for police officers to obtain educational credit . This course will be a live online training course via Zoom (instructions on how to join will be e-mailed upon registering for the course).

Facebook and numerous social media providers play an integral part in nearly everyone's life and contain information helpful to law enforcers--even if the subjects of your investigation do not use them!

This 2-day, law enforcement only, course is being hosted to help officers, detectives, and law enforcement analysts maximize their ability to obtain open-source intelligence to locate, identify, and understand people of interest using OSINT research techniques. The instructor is James Ward, an Intelligence Research Specialist with DHS's Homeland Security Investigations component, and formerly with the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division. He has a successful history of using social media to track down murderers, rapists, human traffickers, money launders, and other criminals.

James is a certified instructor through the Texas TCOLE certified instructor course as well as the Department of Homeland Security. Officers in the State of Texas will be able to obtain 16-hours of TCOLE credit upon successful completion of the course and officers outside the state of Texas may qualify (and in the past have qualified) for their state's continuing education credit (ask your local training officer).

TAKEAWAYS: Learn advanced investigative techniques in order to:

• Locate, identify, and research criminals and other persons of interest
• Speed up the research process.
• Search communications in real-time emanating from geographical areas.
• Access numerous websites that contain vital intelligence on subjects.

WHAT TO BRING? Since this course is taught online via Zoom, you must have access to a device with an internet connection (video participation is mandatory for Texas officers who want TCOLE credit). Headsets are highly recommended. There are numerous opportunities for hands-on practice to gain proficiency. Mac users will be able to participate in most exercises as well.

WHO CAN (AND CANNOT) ATTEND? This exclusive law enforcement training is open to state and local law enforcement officers, detectives, analysts, contractors, and employees of the prosecutorial criminal justice system. Please note that employees of private defense firms are not eligible to attend.

Federal employees cannot attend if their payment is sourced from federal agency funds (e.g., FBI, DEA, HSI, IRS, etc. cannot purchase tickets for their special agents/analysts). However, HIDTAs, and similar organizations, can purchase tickets for federal employees or contractors using state and local funds. Contractors and any other state or local government agencies are welcome to attend without issue.

Additionally, attendees must not be:

1. Seeking official action from,
2. Doing business with,
3. Conducting activities regulated by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement,
4. Or having interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of James Ward's duties with ICE.

If you need clarification or believe you may qualify for a waiver, please contact the instructor.

ACCREDITED? Yes. James is accredited through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Officers outside the state of Texas may qualify for (and have qualified for) their state's continuing education credit (ask your local training officer). Webcams are required for educational credit (for officers accredited through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, TCOLE).

WHERE? The training event will be held online via Zoom so officers across the country can attend.

GROUP DISCOUNT? Batch registration of 10 or more are eligible for a 10% discount using promo code GroupDiscount. Please do not use this code on purchases not including at least 10 employees. Thanks.

See you at the training event!

Host or Publisher James Ward