Building the Basics: Preparing Officers for the Present and Researching Training for the Future

About Our Guest:Dr. Tom Holthttps://cj.msu.edu/directory/holt-tom.htmlKey Topics Discussed:Dr. Tom Holt emphasized the urgent need for consistent and evidence-based cybercrime training in law enforcement, pointing out disparities in how local agencies handle these crimes.He highlighted the challenges agencies face in responding to cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes, particularly in rural areas.Dr. Holt discussed the development of training modules covering both basic digital evidence handling and specialized topics tailored to agency needs.The conversation underscored the importance of bridging resource gaps between rural and urban agencies.Dr. Holt explained how police leadership’s support is crucial for improving the adoption and effectiveness of training programs.The prevalence of interpersonal cybercrimes like sextortion and fraud, often encountered by local officers, was addressed.Dr. Holt elaborated on long-term evaluation plans for these training programs, aiming to measure their impact on officers and agencies.He also discussed the potential for a national standard curriculum to bring consistency to cybercrime training across the U.S.Papers and Resources Mentioned:Articles on the Training Center Initiative:Cybercrime Training at MSU –https://cj.msu.edu/community/cyber-center/cyber-center-home.htmlProgram announcement - https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2024/msu-receives-$1M-to-create-center-for-cyber-security-trainingOther:This episode was recorded on location in at HEC Montreal. The occasional background noise from students only adds to the vibrant atmosphere of the discussion. So you can’t complain about the noise being distracting, consider it an authentic experience!