AboutCommander Chris Wagoner Expertise I have been a police officer for 28+ years and still going! I am the Police Academy Commander at a Law Enforcement/ Corrections Academy in North Central Florida. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, Criminology, Crime scene processing, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and Physically handicapped, crime scene processing, criminalistics, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police officer curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how did they do this or that. I also like answering any questions you may have about police in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask!
Experience I am a 26 year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others. I have served on Road Patrol, Traffic Homicide, Dive Rescue and other units. I have assisted int eh writing of the State of Florida Law Enforcement Police OFficer Curriculum that is used state wide to teach police officers.
I also Conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.
Publications I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management.
Education/Credentials I have 2 degrees, an AAS in Criminal Justice Technology from Santa Fe Community College, and a AA from Santa Fe Community College in Criminal Justice Programs.
Question Hey there! I'm in college right now working on getting my BA in criminal justice and my goal is to become a Homicide Detective. I really want to go for my MA and PhD in Forensic Psychology instead of Criminal Justice. Will that help me in the long run in my career??
Answer Hi Maggie,
Well if your asking which will help you at the federal level then I would say yes, a MA or PhD in Forensic Psychology would be very very helpful. In fact it would qualify you for many federal level jobs that require that high of a degree.
If you wanting to become a homicide detective, then you have to remember that you will have to become a police officer first and serve some time on the streets before they allow you to even become a regular detective. That time is invaluable as it teaches you the ways and means of the streets and how things work out there. Its not at all like you see on TV on shows like NCIS or CSI. They will send you to schools made especially for law enforcement officers that are entering Homicide Investigation. These courses help you learn how to actually do a real case file, follow-up leads, tracking and tracing, legal aspects and other topics. All vital to a successful case.
I would say if you have the chance the PhD would be a huge help and something that would put you above the others who apply for the position, but it is not a guarantee.
Good luck and be well in your career, whatever you choose..
