Seminar Title
Online-Basic Criminal Investigations Purpose, Mission and Calling of a Detective
Dates of Events
10/26/2026 through 10/26/2026
Last Updated: 08/31/2026
Instructor(s): Jake Sparks
Course Registration Fee: $150
Instructor Bio
Jake Sparks
Jake Sparks, Captain- Investigative Services
Ottawa County (MI) Sheriff’s Office
Captain Sparks began his career with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office in 1999, after graduating from Grand Valley State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. In 2003, he was selected as Deputy of the Year for his contributions to Community Policing. In 2006, Sparks was assigned to a Michigan State Police undercover narcotics taskforce. His time with the taskforce included street level drug and gang crime, but primarily involved interdiction and conspiracy investigations, working closely with Federal law enforcement to disrupt high level drug traffickers. Sparks was promoted to Detective in 2009 and has extensive experience investigating sexual assaults, robberies, homicides, and other major crimes, while also spending two years assigned to the Cold Case Team, investigating unsolved homicides. In 2017, Sparks was promoted to Detective Sergeant and later, Services Captain, overseeing numerous Community Policing initiatives, and the School Resource program. In February of 2018, Sparks was presented with the Distinguished Law Enforcement Service Award, after negotiating the surrender of an armed individual threatening police. Captain Sparks has also supervised the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiation Team since 2019. In 2021, Sparks returned to the Investigative Services Unit, where he currently leads the Detective Bureau.
Jake Sparks, Captain- Investigative Services
Ottawa County (MI) Sheriff’s Office
Captain Sparks began his career with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office in 1999, after graduating from Grand Valley State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. In 2003, he was selected as Deputy of the Year for his contributions to Community Policing. In 2006, Sparks was assigned to a Michigan State Police undercover narcotics taskforce. His time with the taskforce included street level drug and gang crime, but primarily involved interdiction and conspiracy investigations, working closely with Federal law enforcement to disrupt high level drug traffickers. Sparks was promoted to Detective in 2009 and has extensive experience investigating sexual assaults, robberies, homicides, and other major crimes, while also spending two years assigned to the Cold Case Team, investigating unsolved homicides. In 2017, Sparks was promoted to Detective Sergeant and later, Services Captain, overseeing numerous Community Policing initiatives, and the School Resource program. In February of 2018, Sparks was presented with the Distinguished Law Enforcement Service Award, after negotiating the surrender of an armed individual threatening police. Captain Sparks has also supervised the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiation Team since 2019. In 2021, Sparks returned to the Investigative Services Unit, where he currently leads the Detective Bureau.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
Date: October 26, 2026
Time: 10:00AM - 11:30AM Eastern
The course establishes a strong foundation in the mission, purpose, and professional responsibilities of a detective while emphasizing the critical mindset shift required for long-term investigative success.
• Training, Maintaining Caseload, Alternate Resolutions
• Mindset change from Patrol, Burnout and Mental Health
• Role of the Lead Detective (Primary Investigator)
Group Viewing Encouraged: Pay 1 Registration Fee
·Multiple attendees can group view the training from one device only and each attendee will receive a certificate.
·ONLY the registered attendee will receive a link to join the training (Link will be sent 1-2 Days Prior to the Event)
Quiz & Certificates: Within 24 hours after the live broadcast the registered attendee will receive an email with:
·Quiz link that will need to be forwarded to each person in your group so they may print a certificate after completing the quiz.
·30 Days Access of the Recording (this link may be shared with with others in your department only)
*** No Refunds After Class Link Has Been Sent*
Time: 10:00AM - 11:30AM Eastern
The course establishes a strong foundation in the mission, purpose, and professional responsibilities of a detective while emphasizing the critical mindset shift required for long-term investigative success.
• Training, Maintaining Caseload, Alternate Resolutions
• Mindset change from Patrol, Burnout and Mental Health
• Role of the Lead Detective (Primary Investigator)
Group Viewing Encouraged: Pay 1 Registration Fee
·Multiple attendees can group view the training from one device only and each attendee will receive a certificate.
·ONLY the registered attendee will receive a link to join the training (Link will be sent 1-2 Days Prior to the Event)
Quiz & Certificates: Within 24 hours after the live broadcast the registered attendee will receive an email with:
·Quiz link that will need to be forwarded to each person in your group so they may print a certificate after completing the quiz.
·30 Days Access of the Recording (this link may be shared with with others in your department only)
*** No Refunds After Class Link Has Been Sent*
