Seminar Title
Homicide Investigation: From the First Call to the Courtroom for New Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Dates of Events
11/09/2026 through 11/11/2026
Last Updated: 09/09/2026
Instructor(s): Matthew Downing
Location: Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute Training Center - 5250 E. US Highway 36, Avon, IN 46123
Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Avon - 193 Angelina Way, Avon, IN 46123
Course Registration Fee: $325
Instructor Bio
Matthew Downing
Major (Active) Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, SC
Matthew Downing, currently a Major with the Berkeley County (SC) Sheriff's Office, began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, where he transitioned from detention operations to patrol and later served as a SWAT operator and Detective. As a Detective, he developed extensive experience investigating serious criminal offenses, conducting surveillance and undercover operations, developing and executing search and arrest warrants, interviewing suspects and witnesses, and working closely with local and federal law enforcement partners.
In 2017, Downing joined the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office as a Detective, where his investigative career continued with a primary focus on complex and serious criminal investigations, including homicide and major violent crimes. He later served as a Detective Sergeant, supervising and mentoring investigators while continuing to oversee major cases. Following his promotion to Lieutenant, he assumed command of the Criminal Investigation Division, coordinating criminal investigations throughout Berkeley County. In this role, he established investigative priorities, developed courses of action for investigations and prosecution, reviewed investigative work, and helped guide complex cases from the initial investigation through case preparation.
Throughout his almost 14-year investigative career, Major Downing has built extensive experience in homicide and major violent crime investigations, before returning to patrol operations in 2023. Major Downing was promoted to Captain in 2024 and assigned as Operations Commander of the Hill-Finklea Detention Center, and later promoted to Major in 2026. While his current responsibilities focus on executive leadership and the daily operation of a large detention facility, his professional background is deeply rooted in criminal investigations, particularly homicide and major violent crimes.
Major Downing is also an agency instructor, helping train and mentor deputies on a variety of law enforcement topics. He is a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA leadership program, earning the Trilogy Award, and the FBI Command College. He holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice from Charleston Southern University.
Major (Active) Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, SC
Matthew Downing, currently a Major with the Berkeley County (SC) Sheriff's Office, began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, where he transitioned from detention operations to patrol and later served as a SWAT operator and Detective. As a Detective, he developed extensive experience investigating serious criminal offenses, conducting surveillance and undercover operations, developing and executing search and arrest warrants, interviewing suspects and witnesses, and working closely with local and federal law enforcement partners.
In 2017, Downing joined the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office as a Detective, where his investigative career continued with a primary focus on complex and serious criminal investigations, including homicide and major violent crimes. He later served as a Detective Sergeant, supervising and mentoring investigators while continuing to oversee major cases. Following his promotion to Lieutenant, he assumed command of the Criminal Investigation Division, coordinating criminal investigations throughout Berkeley County. In this role, he established investigative priorities, developed courses of action for investigations and prosecution, reviewed investigative work, and helped guide complex cases from the initial investigation through case preparation.
Throughout his almost 14-year investigative career, Major Downing has built extensive experience in homicide and major violent crime investigations, before returning to patrol operations in 2023. Major Downing was promoted to Captain in 2024 and assigned as Operations Commander of the Hill-Finklea Detention Center, and later promoted to Major in 2026. While his current responsibilities focus on executive leadership and the daily operation of a large detention facility, his professional background is deeply rooted in criminal investigations, particularly homicide and major violent crimes.
Major Downing is also an agency instructor, helping train and mentor deputies on a variety of law enforcement topics. He is a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA leadership program, earning the Trilogy Award, and the FBI Command College. He holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice from Charleston Southern University.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
Course Description
This course is designed for newly assigned homicide investigators, aiming to prepare them to effectively manage homicide investigations from the initial dispatch through arrest and prosecution. Students will learn investigative leadership skills, crime scene management, victimology, forensic evidence recognition, witness development, interviewing, digital evidence collection, search warrants, case organization, and courtroom preparation through classroom instruction and practical exercises.
Emphasis is placed on effective decision-making during the first 24 hours of the investigation, recognizing that early investigative actions frequently determine the ultimate success or failure of a homicide investigation.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Describe the responsibilities of the homicide investigator.
2. Explain investigative priorities during the initial response.
3. Establish command of a homicide scene.
4. Coordinate crime scene processing.
5. Conduct effective victimology.
6. Develop investigative timelines.
7. Conduct neighborhood canvasses.
8. Identify and interview witnesses.
9. Conduct legally sound suspect interviews.
10. Utilize digital evidence.
11. Work effectively with the Coroner or Medical Examiner.
12. Prepare search warrants.
13. Organize a homicide case file.
14. Present investigative findings to prosecutors.
This course is designed for newly assigned homicide investigators, aiming to prepare them to effectively manage homicide investigations from the initial dispatch through arrest and prosecution. Students will learn investigative leadership skills, crime scene management, victimology, forensic evidence recognition, witness development, interviewing, digital evidence collection, search warrants, case organization, and courtroom preparation through classroom instruction and practical exercises.
Emphasis is placed on effective decision-making during the first 24 hours of the investigation, recognizing that early investigative actions frequently determine the ultimate success or failure of a homicide investigation.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Describe the responsibilities of the homicide investigator.
2. Explain investigative priorities during the initial response.
3. Establish command of a homicide scene.
4. Coordinate crime scene processing.
5. Conduct effective victimology.
6. Develop investigative timelines.
7. Conduct neighborhood canvasses.
8. Identify and interview witnesses.
9. Conduct legally sound suspect interviews.
10. Utilize digital evidence.
11. Work effectively with the Coroner or Medical Examiner.
12. Prepare search warrants.
13. Organize a homicide case file.
14. Present investigative findings to prosecutors.