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From Allegation Through Appeal

INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS

Thorough. Impartial. Legally Defensible.

A course for the people who hold agencies accountable. Internal Affairs Investigations trains sworn and civilian investigators to manage a complaint from the first allegation through the disciplinary appeal, the right way and the defensible way. It is built for every rank echelon, from line-level investigators and first-line supervisors through command staff, in every public safety discipline, and is offered in a National and a Florida-focused format.

Who Should Attend

THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED FOR

 

Investigators of every rank, sworn and non-sworn, who conduct internal and administrative investigations across every public safety discipline, including law enforcement, corrections, correctional-probation, and fire service. It serves full-time internal affairs and professional standards investigators, line-level investigators, first-line and correctional supervisors, and command staff, along with non-sworn investigators and personnel assigned to civilian oversight entities, and anyone who handles misconduct investigations as an adjunct duty.

About the Program

TRAINED FOR THE WHOLE INVESTIGATION

 

Internal Affairs Investigations is Embassy Consulting Services' training for the investigators who protect the integrity of their agencies. Across three days, participants work through the full life of a case, from how a complaint is received and classified to how findings are reached and how a disciplinary decision stands up on appeal.

The program is built on best practices, legal standards, and the court rulings that shape every administrative investigation, including Garrity, Weingarten, and Loudermill. It stresses constitutional obligations, disciplinary due process, and sound complaint management so that every investigation is thorough, impartial, and legally defensible.

It is facilitated by Chief Larry Horak (Ret.), a former FBI Special Agent and retired chief of police who built and led FBI-LEEDA's national Internal Affairs seminar.

Chief Larry Horak (Ret.) presenting the Internal Affairs Investigations course

GET THE INVESTIGATION RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

Thorough. Impartial. Built to Hold Up.

Certified Internal Affairs Investigations training in session

Inside the Course

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Through case studies, legal review, and practical application, participants learn to carry an investigation from allegation to appeal:

  • Managing Allegations Through Appeals
  • Garrity, Weingarten & Loudermill
  • Constitutional Obligations
  • Disciplinary Due Process
  • Investigative Procedures & Best Practices
  • Legal Considerations in Investigations
  • Complaint Intake & Management
  • Defensible Findings & Outcomes
SEE UPCOMING TRAININGS

Two Ways to Train

CHOOSE YOUR COURSE

Both courses run three days (24 hours) and are facilitated by Chief Larry Horak (Ret.). The National course teaches the standards that apply everywhere. The Florida-focused course adds the state law and statutory rights that Florida agencies answer to.

 
National AudienceInternal Affairs
Investigations

3 Days · 24 Hours

The core course for investigators. Covers investigative procedures and best practices, constitutional obligations, disciplinary due process, complaint management, and the landmark rulings in Garrity, Weingarten, and Loudermill, all aimed at thorough, impartial, and defensible outcomes.

COURSE DETAILS
Florida-FocusedFlorida Internal Affairs Investigations

3 Days · 24 Hours

Built for Florida agencies. Everything in the national standards, plus the Law Enforcement, Correctional Officers', and Firefighters' Bills of Rights and Florida public records law. Satisfies the accreditation standard for specialized-assignment training across all public safety disciplines in Florida.

COURSE DETAILS
Chief Larry Horak (Ret.) smiling in a professional setting, wearing a blue tie and striped shirt, with a background featuring an American flag, representing expertise in internal affairs investigations training.

Your Facilitator

MEET CHIEF LARRY HORAK (RET.)

Facilitator · Internal Affairs Investigations

Chief Larry Horak (Ret.) brings more than 35 years in law enforcement to the classroom, including service as a Special Agent with the FBI and as Chief of Police for the Margate, Florida Police Department. His career has centered on the work this course teaches: internal affairs investigations, public corruption, civil rights violations, and agency accountability.

He developed and launched FBI-LEEDA's national Internal Affairs seminar in 2005 and has presented for the IACP, the National Internal Affairs Investigators Association, and the Florida Internal Affairs Investigators Association. A graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute, he holds a master's in public administration and is a licensed private investigator.

MORE ABOUT LARRY

See It In Action

INSIDE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS

A look inside the Internal Affairs Investigations course.

Participant Reviews

“
The Best IA Course

Excellent, the best IA course I have attended. Tailored to our state and agency.

— John Volek

“
Real Stories, Not Just Directives

The stories which highlight the course material while simultaneously giving real-life examples, versus just written directives. Larry knows his stuff!

— David Amodio

“
Knowledgeable and Passionate

Very knowledgeable and passionate about the information. Enjoyed hearing his perspective and look forward to relying on his guidance.

— Devin

“
A Subject Matter Expert

Great instructor and very knowledgeable. Appreciated his obvious passion for what he was teaching. Clearly a subject matter expert.

— Michael Dilloway

“
Makes the Complex Simple

Larry is an excellent instructor and highly recommended. Lots of experience. Breaks down complicated information, making it easy to understand.

— Adam Cempa

“
Directly Relevant to the Job

Wealth of information pertinent to my job function. Larry has a significant amount of experience on the topic covered.

— Dejan Nadzakovic

“
Knows the Case Law

Larry was super knowledgeable on all the materials and case law and made himself available to questions during breaks. It's clear he loves this material!

— Anthony

“
More Knowledge Than Any Other

Larry was fantastic! He has so much more knowledge than any of the instructors I've had over the years. Anyone who is lucky to learn from Larry should be thankful.

— Tara Henry

“
All Good Information

There's a lot to absorb, but it's all good information. I enjoyed the information and the instructor's delivery of it.

— Jeremy

“
He Wrote the Book

Larry was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable and experienced. He wrote the book and created the curriculum. I liked that Larry related topics to his real-life events, which helps students with application of what is being taught. Larry also supplied access to an unbelievable amount of resources to help guide us further.

— Charles Gehrand

“
Never Rushed, Easy to Follow

Larry was a great instructor for a 3-day course. It's hard to say that about most instructors. I like that he wasn't rushed, he was kind, easy to understand, and I appreciated his relating concepts to personal experience. I would love to take another training with him.

— Kris Williams

“
A Clear Passion for IA

Larry was very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. He clearly has a passion for IA investigations and it shows in his instruction.

— Adam C. Vander Steeg

Register

UPCOMING INTERNAL AFFAIRS COURSES

National and Florida-focused sessions, listed together below.

No event found!
SEE FULL COURSE LIBRARY

Questions

INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS FAQ

The who, what, and how of training with Embassy Consulting Services.

What is the Internal Affairs Investigations course?+
It is a three-day (24-hour) course from Embassy Consulting Services that trains sworn and civilian personnel to conduct internal and administrative investigations, from the first allegation through the disciplinary appeal. It emphasizes best practices, legal considerations, constitutional obligations, and defensible outcomes.
What is the difference between the National and Florida-focused courses?+
Both courses teach the same national standards, including Garrity, Weingarten, and Loudermill. The Florida-focused course adds the Law Enforcement, Correctional Officers', and Firefighters' Bills of Rights and Florida public records law, and it satisfies the accreditation standard for specialized-assignment training in Florida.
Who should attend?+
Sworn and civilian investigators who conduct internal or administrative investigations in any public safety discipline, including full-time internal affairs and professional standards staff, first-line and correctional supervisors, and anyone who handles misconduct investigations as an adjunct duty.
How long is the course and what is the format?+
Each course runs three days, 24 hours total, and combines instruction, legal review, case studies, and practical application of investigative procedures.
Does it cover Garrity, Weingarten, and Loudermill?+
Yes. The key court rulings that govern administrative investigations are central to the curriculum, including Garrity, Weingarten, and Loudermill.
Who facilitates the course?+
Chief Larry Horak (Ret.), a former FBI Special Agent and retired Margate, Florida chief of police with more than 35 years in law enforcement. He developed and launched FBI-LEEDA's national Internal Affairs seminar and has presented for the IACP and national and Florida internal affairs investigator associations.
Is the course certified?+
The Florida-focused course satisfies the law enforcement accreditation standard that requires training for specialized assignments and duties. Certification and approved hours can vary by state and host agency, so confirm the details for the specific session you plan to attend.
How do I register or bring it to my agency?+
Register for an upcoming session through the course listings on this page, or contact Embassy Consulting Services to schedule Internal Affairs Investigations for your agency.

READY TO BUILD DEFENSIBLE INVESTIGATIONS?

Give your investigators the standard the work demands.

SEE UPCOMING TRAININGS