Brian’s Classes:

Drafting Search Warrants in Narcotic Cases Lesson Plan

Simplifying a Complicated Process:  The law surrounding search warrants is everchanging and can appear daunting.  Brian Surber has spent 25 years as a narcotics officer, drug prosecutor, and legal advisor to a narcotics agency.  Brian’s two (2) day class on drafting search warrants prepares officers to draft not just legally sufficient warrants (and supporting affidavits), but to generate output on par with the most elite of operators from the most renown agencies in the world. 

Course Objective:  Students will learn the principles behind the requirements of a search warrant in simple terms.  More importantly, students will learn to both capture defects in warrants and improve warrant drafting from the perspective of best practices.  Students will take the information learned and apply it practically to improve a search warrant.  Further, resources will be provided to students to use in the future to include checklists, summaries, digital templates/examples, and sample legal briefs to counter common attacks on warrants and the officers who prepare them. 

Instructional Outline:

I.            Opening Remarks

II.          Practical Exercise: Students are presented with an affidavit with multiple defects (some fatal, some not, and multiple areas for improvement).  The students review the affidavit to see what defects are found, suggestions, etc.  This serves as the foundation of the class.

III.        Lecture:

a.   Background on the Fourth Amendment.

b.   Purpose of a search warrant.

c.   Training and experience:

Warrantless Search and Seizure Lesson Plan

Simplifying the Fourth Amendment Through a Systematic Approach:  The Fourth Amendment is the most litigated piece of law in human history.  Brian Surber has spent 25 years as a narcotics officer, drug prosecutor, and legal advisor to a narcotics agency – his entire career has centered around searches and seizures.  Brian’s class on warrantless search and seizure is not a regurgitation of search warrant exceptions.  Rather, the class focuses on a simplification of Fourth Amendment law by a systematic approach so that officers understand not only the litany of exceptions, but are prepared to encounter virtually any Fourth Amendment issue in the field. 

Course Objective:  Students will learn the basic principles of the Fourth Amendment in simplified terms.  The common search warrant exceptions will be discussed in detail and officers will learn to document the justifications for searches and seizures. Further, resources will be provided to students to use in the future to include checklists, sand reporting templates. 

Instructional Outline:

I.            Opening Remarks

II.          Lecture:

a.   Background on the Fourth Amendment.

b.   The Importance of Training and experience:

               i.    Why this is important.

Report Writing and Courtroom Testimony Lesson Plan

Improvement Via Professionalism:  Right or wrong, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges evaluate an officer’s competence by the quality of his or her report – reports absolutely reflect professionalism.  The same could be said about courtroom testimony.  Brian Surber has spent 25 years as a narcotics officer, drug prosecutor, and legal advisor to a narcotics agency.  He understands prosecutors’ needs from reports and testimony while also appreciating the challenges of being a police officer.  Brian’s two (2) day class on report writing absolutely prepares officers to draft reports on par with the best operators in America while also providing fundamental principles and tips to testify more effectively. 

Course Objective:  Students will learn the identify the crucial aspects of a report and how to include them.  Further, every officer will learn how to testify as an expert witness and will create an exhibit outlining his or her expert qualifications (regardless of experience level) and resources will be provided to students to use in the future to including digital templates for a number of reporting incidents.  As to testifying, students will learn the principles of effective testimony and observe those principles in practice.

Instructional Outline:

I.            Opening Remarks

II.          Lecture on Report Writing: There will be a number of topics covered including,

a.   The purpose of Report Writing,

b.   The Use of Language,

Contact Brian for a class syllabus and schedule. Classes can (and should) be modified based on the anticipated audience and the length can be revised to meet training demands.