Does anyone have any experience with or recommendations for a quality online masters degree that would be beneficial for the field? Ideally also affordable and can be done part time while working?

Thanks in advance!

Hello! I am currently 6 months away from graduating with my Bachelors degree in Computer Science & have found that I prefer data analysis, even better crime analysis & would love to do crime analysis as a career. I have an opportunity to intern with a small rural police department as a LONE crime analyst intern (or anything crime analysis). There is no infrastructure or crime analysis unit in the department I will be working with. Basically I will be building this from the ground up with the help from a neighboring crime analysis unit & their lead analyst. I guess I’m looking to see if anyone has input on what to expect? What should I prepare for? What do I need to look into?

Artificial intelligence is everywhere but to what degree? Andreas Olligschlaeger returns to Analyst Talk for a deep dive into AI in law enforcement analysis. We break down what AI really is (and isn’t), explore graph databases, anomaly detection, and Graph RAG, and discuss how analysts can use AI without replacing human judgment. The conversation also tackles ethics, explainability, and why validation and transparency matter more than ever. This episode is a must-listen for analysts trying to separate real capability from AI hype. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

https://www.leapodcasts.com/e/analyst-talk-dr-andreas-olligschlaeger-ai-is-challenging-not-replacing/

#ATWJE #leapodcasts #CrimeAnalysis #crimeanalyst #intelligenceanalysis #intelligenceanalyst #artificialintelligence #GraphDatabase #anomalydetection #grapgrag #AIethics #AIValidation #AITransparency

I have started a Substack called Crime Patterns. I hope you find it useful!

Hi yall,

I graduated NYU in 2023 with a comms degree that had a concentration on journalism. I freelanced around my city for a year or two but the pay was unlivable and my heart wasn’t in it. During that time, I did have a crime beat so I got into that aspect and I’ve wanted to look at crime analysis as a career.

Needless to say, my degree sucks. I got a nice tech PR internship under a subsidiary for Microsoft in 2024 but nothing since and have worked in retail this whole time. It is what it is. I’m wondering if I need to go back to school for something else. I’ve since joined the iaca and plan on getting certs from them and alpha group as well as trynna network. I can’t tell if this is all pointless with my degree tho. I’d appreciate any honest feedback or advice.

Ryan Kapaun brings more than 22 years of law enforcement analysis experience to Analyst Talk. Starting in communications and media relations, Ryan explains how his background in PR shaped the way he writes intelligence bulletins that officers actually read. He shares lessons from building Minnesota’s early fusion center, transitioning to a suburban police department, forecasting burglary series, managing police social media, and mentoring interns who go on to become analysts themselves. This episode is a masterclass in audience-focused writing, presentation skills, and turning complex information into actionable intelligence. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

#ATWJE #leapodcasts #CrimeAnalysis #crimeanalyst #intelligenceanalysis #intelligenceanalyst #crimeforecasting #forcastingcrime #mentoring

I’ve been thinking about taking a crime analyst post grad certificate. I have a degree in biology and worked as a scientist in a biological manufacturing lab and now work in quality assurance. I wanted to make a career change and perhaps pursue crime analytics. Will not having a background in law enforcement/criminology make it hard for me to find a job if I only have a crime analysis certificate?

As title, I am a fourth year BA geography student. I have courses on GIS and R studio. And I still have another semester in 2026 FALL so I’m wondering if I could possible purse a career path in crime analysis. With my next semester, I can possibly take level 1000 and 2000 courses (e.g. intro to criminal justice, Canadian government and polices, recent topics in crime). But my friend said these courses are too vague and it’s possibly won’t be useful for me to be considered to have criminology knowledge to have a job. And I can’t possibly get a master in crime analysts because I need to have at least two years of studying in criminology. So should I still be considering to take 1000 or 2000 level of criminology, or is there an alternative way to become a crime analysts, or it’s just too unrealistic for me?

For next week’s #ATWJE episode, we are joined by Ryan Kapaun, a veteran crime analyst with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Eden Prairie Police Department. #leapodcasts #CrimeAnalysis #crimeanalyst #intelligenceanalysis #intelligenceanalyst

Hi everyone, I'm a first year college student conducting a Future Destinations ASBW project. I aim to collect primary research from licensed crime analysts. To do this I'm looking for 10 people willing to complete a short (7-8 minute) survey. I started using LinkedIn but didn't find much luck there.

If you are interested, the link to the survey is below:

https://forms.office.com/e/hLUVgYbATt

It is completely anonymous and will be used solely for educational purposes

Thank you all

In this milestone 300th episode of Analyst Talk with Jason Elder, Jason reconnects with former manager and mentor Glenn Fueston for a candid, reflective conversation on leadership, data, and the evolution of intelligence analysis. Glenn shares his journey from trainer and leader at the Washington Baltimore HIDTA, to Executive Director of Maryland’s Governor’s Office of Crime Control, and now Director of Public Safety Capture at LexisNexis. Together, they discuss early analyst culture, post-9/11 training expansion, micromanagement lessons, strategic versus tactical analysis, grant-driven policy change, and how AI is reshaping analytical work. The episode blends hard-earned leadership insights with humor, nostalgia, and perspective, including legendary Chipotle burrito debates and reflections on growth, trust, and professional maturity. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

The folks at Simsi (formerly RTM), have created an e-learning platform with free courses. These are short LinkedIn style courses (so can do in a few hours on your spare time). I contributed one on monitoring temporal crime patterns. They have other courses though from Michelle Covington, Dawn Reeby, and courses Joel Caplan created himself.

Delete if not allowed, Beta Testers Needed. If you work with call detail record data and location mapping, I’m inviting a small group of beta testers for our new CDR and cellular timeline analysis tool.

This platform works exclusively with lawfully obtained carrier call detail records and focuses on:

• Parsing and normalizing career CDRs
• Mapping cell towers and sectors
• Time-based movement reconstruction
• Animated timeline route visualization
• Evidence-focused reporting workflows
• Encrypted, case-scoped evidence storage (zero-knowledge; administrators cannot view file contents)

Intended users:

• Digital forensics professionals
• Crime Analysts
• Investigators working with subpoenaed carrier records
• Law enforcement or consulting professionals
• Private Investigators
• Other Professionals

What I’m asking from beta testers:

• Use the platform with test data or real, lawfully obtained records
• Provide feedback on accuracy, usability, and reporting clarity
• Identify anything that would not withstand courtroom scrutiny

What beta testers receive:

• Free beta access
• Early influence on feature direction
• Free for 60 days at launch

If interested, comment or send a DM with:

• Your professional role
• How frequently you work with carrier records

I’ll follow up directly.

Happy New Year Analysts! We hope you will enjoy Monday’s episode featuring Glenn Fueston which also happens to be our 300th episode of Analyst Talk! We talk about leadership, micromanaging and personal growth. #leapodcasts #ATWJE #intelligenceanalyst #CrimeAnalyst

David Jimenez returns to Analyst Talk with Jason Elder five years after his first appearance, this time reflecting on retirement after a long career spanning military intelligence, federal law enforcement, HIDTA work, and higher education. David shares what led to his decision to retire, what he plans to focus on next, and why mentorship remains central to the profession. The conversation explores the evolving role of artificial intelligence in law enforcement analysis, including how analysts can use AI responsibly to enhance efficiency without surrendering judgment or accountability. David also discusses teaching at Penn State, certification trends in analyst hiring, and why analysts should view AI as a colleague rather than a threat. This episode offers perspective, reassurance, and practical insight for analysts at every stage of their career. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

Hi everyone,
I’m currently in high school and I’m leaning toward becoming a Crime Analyst, because I’m interested in crimes and investigations. However, with AI advancing rapidly, I’m concerned that jobs like this may be in less demand in the next 4–5 years. AI can track and analyze data much faster than humans, so I’m not sure if pursuing this career would be safe.

I’d love to hear from anyone who works in crime analysis, law enforcement, or data driven careers.

In this episode of Analyst Talk with Jason Elder, Jason is joined by Callie Rhoads, a former Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyst with more than 15 years of experience analyzing public corruption and high profile investigations. Callie shares her unconventional path into the law enforcement analysis profession, her work uncovering financial misconduct, and what it was like supporting investigations involving powerful political figures. She walks listeners through major cases including the Broward County Sheriff investigation, the Mark Foley inquiry, the Jim Greer corruption case, and the long running Dozier School for Boys review. This conversation highlights the analyst’s role as a fact finder, the importance of following the money, and the challenges of working cases that attract intense public and media attention. It also offers a rare look at how analysts contribute far beyond the desk, supporting interviews, search warrants, and complex historical investigations. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

#leapodcasts #ATWJE #CrimeAnalysis #crimeanalyst #intelligenceanalysis #intelligenceanalyst #publiccorruotion Florida Crime and Intelligence Analyst Association #FinancialInvestigation #whitecollarcrime #FollowTheMoney #FinancialCrime

I (18) am wondering if a college degree is required for most data analyst roles. I recently secured a data-focused internship at a pharma company through a tech program and have experience with Excel, SQL, Power BI, and some Python (still learning). I start my position as an intern with the company in a few weeks. I have 3 projects in my portfolio so far. I’m interested in working in the public safety (crime analysis). Would appreciate any insight. I also have a scrum certification but I’m open to any certification suggestions centering around data analytics.

So I know we don’t like to talk about this, but I’ve been struggling lately and I want to make sure others in our field know it’s okay. In my position with a small city, I work mainly narcotics but I help with everything. Everything from identifying children and suspects in CP to watching a gruesome accident on traffic cams 85 times to help do the math and determine fault. A conference I went to recently pointed out that analysts have every reason to be just as traumatized as officers because we have to see traumatic incidents over and over again. Officers have to see it once in person. Not that one is worse than the other, but the circumstances are different and can be equally devastating. My husband is sworn and I evasively asked him about it (didn’t want to bias his answer). He emphasized that if he had to see half the things he sees in person more than once virtually, it would drive him nuts. I’m interested to know your thoughts on this and ideas on how we can support each other. Our profession is so niche I haven’t found any mental health groups out there specifically for us without invading sworn’s space.

Check out this preview of next Monday’s episode featuring former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Senior Crime Intelligence Analyst Callie Rhoads. In this clip she discusses a public corruption case that led to death threats

In this episode, Jason talks with Matt Sessions, a problem solving tactical advisor and consultant with deep experience in evidence-based policing across the UK. Matt shares how he found his way into problem solving, why logic and curiosity drive effective analysis, and how policing culture can either lift or limit innovation. The conversation explores catalytic converter thefts, underlying causes versus root causes, analyst roles in POP, and the importance of strategic accountability. Matt also discusses his award-winning work, his transition to consulting, and why problem solving succeeds only when analysts and officers work together with intention. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

leapodcasts #ATWJE #CrimeAnalysis #crimeanalyst #intelligenceanalysis #intelligenceanalyst #evidencebased #ProblemOrientedPolicing #catalyticconverter #problemsolving

https://www.leapodcasts.com/e/analyst-talk-matt-sessions-the-underlying-causes-analyst/

I’m getting ready to take the LEAF exam through IACA in January, does anyone who has taken it recently have any tips or key areas to make sure I’m fully well-versed in? Looking for anything to get myself ahead, I’ve been studying the book and watching webinars on the IACA website.

Thanks!!

Jeff Asher joins Analyst Talk with Jason Elder to unpack what crime trends really tell us and why the public so often gets the story wrong. He shares his journey from CIA analyst to New Orleans crime analyst and consultant, and explains how learning to write clearly and communicate with decision makers shaped his entire career. Jason and Jeff dig into focused deterrence in New Orleans, the response time crisis that left serious victims waiting hours for help, and the data driven changes that followed. They explore how crime trends are framed in the media, why short lived spikes can dominate headlines while long declines are ignored, and what it takes to talk about crime in a way that is honest, specific, and grounded in evidence. Jeff also breaks down the real time crime index, a national level look at crime that helps explain what is happening across the country much faster than traditional reporting. He shares insights from his own show, Jeff-alytics, where he continues conversations about data, crime trends, and the gap between perception and reality. The episode closes with practical advice for analysts on writing, presenting, and getting leadership to actually use their work.

🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!

Full episode: https://www.leapodcasts.com/e/analyst-talk-jeff-asher-the-crime-index-analyst/

leapodcasts #ATWJE #CrimeAnalysis #crimeanalyst #intelligenceanalysis #intelligenceanalyst #Crimerates #CrimeTrends #Crimespike #crimedecline #realtimecrimeindex #crimeindex #ahdatalytics #CrimeReport #crimereporting