Expert: Robin Sexton - 8/19/2009

Question
I want to be a homicide detective. I already know that you have to be a cop first and work on the streets for years. I am wondering what courses i need to focus on in college and what else i can do to get me to the position of detective as fast as possible.
Also where can i go to find accurate information on this topic?

Answer
Sarah,

Good luck on your career quest.  You are correct on your information that it takes some time to get there.  Another item you need to realize is that only large municipal or county departments have dedicated homicide units.  The other 90% do not have significant number of homicides to require a specialized unit.  Their homicides are handled by a more general investigator.
Researching the agency you want to work for would be a good start.  As far as college curriculum lets talk about what a homicide investigator does or needs to know.  First and foremost a homicide investigator needs to be able to talk to people and develop information.  Most homicides are not solved by forensics they are solved by getting the information from witnesses and suspects.  So a strong back ground in human behavior and behavioral psychology would be beneficial.  Although an understanding of forensic science is needed the technical skills are not, as the forensic specialist will handle that.  you do need to know what is available and what they can do.  Anatomy and pathology is of some use to be better able to understand what the physicians are talking about but not a requirement.  So despite what you may see on TV the best training a homicide detective or any detective for that matter needs is people skills.  Second would be organizational and time management skills.  You will get behind and you will be behind the rest of your career.

Good luck

robin