8 hours VA DCJS career development in-service credit

Detective Steve Cook of the Independence, Missouri Police Department will give an 8-hour presentation on Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs).  The training will cover topics including:

- the history of the drug cartels
- trafficking-related violence
- trafficking routes
- Mexican super labs
- Jesus Malverde and the spiritual side of drug trafficking
- how Mexican drug cells move methamphetamine and other drugs into local communities
- the connections between Mexican DTOs and other criminal groups such as street gangs, prison gangs, and motorcycle gangs.

This course is ideal for patrol officers, K-9 officers, street crimes units, gang investigators and narcotics detectives.

Detective Cook has more than 14 years of law enforcement experience.  He spent years in an undercover capacity as a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang and has narcotics experience stemming from six years as an investigator with the Jackson County Drug Task Force, serving as a member of a DEA clandestine laboratory enforcement team, and an assignment to a FBI Violent Crime Gang Task Force. 

As an undercover narcotics investigator, Steve was responsible for the infiltration, investigation and prosecution of more than sixty defendants, primarily working methamphetamine organizations and marijuana organizations.  Steve has also specialized in conducting historical investigations on methamphetamine manufacturers and distributors.  His work has led to the conviction of more than 170 methamphetamine manufacturers and distributors in Federal court.  In addition, he has more than 350 hours of testimony in Federal court, and he is certified as an expert witness in the area of methamphetamine investigations and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Check the Training Calendar for course availability, location and registration cost information.