Det. Adam Richardson

Writer's Detective Bureau

Arts EN ↓ 142 episodes

The Writer's Detective Bureau is a podcast hosted by retired Police Detective Adam Richardson. Adam answers questions about criminal investigation and police work posed by crime-fiction authors and screenwriters writing crime-related stories. To submit a question, visit https://www.writersdetective.com/ask

Author

Det. Adam Richardson

Category

Arts

Podcast website

www.writersdetective.com

Latest episode

Jan 7, 2025

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Episodes

AI Bots and Ghost Guns 07.01.2025

Adam talks about AI bots, the future of the Writer's Detective Bureau, and ghost guns. 

Bunco Crimes, Investigator Associations, Retired Cops, and POVs 18.10.2024

Adam talks about bunco crime investigations, the value of belonging to investigator associations, the trope of retired cops being forced back to work for one last case, and a different kind of POV. Submit a question: writersdetective.com/ask

Cybercrime, Trap and Trace, and Concealed Carry 21.09.2024

Adam talks about cybercrime investigations, how wiretap investigations involve "trap and trace" and "pen registers" tools, and how undercover detectives conceal their firearms.  Submit your own question to the podcast: writersdetective.com/ask

Core Character Question, Celebrities, and An Unnoticed Serial Killer 09.09.2024

The Writer's Detective Bureau podcast is BACK and now ad-free!  Adam has retired from law enforcement and is back answering writers' questions.  Adam shares a core character question that he contemplated at the end of his career that could inform how you plot a character arc. Adam then answers questions about celebrity-related investigations and an unnoticed serial killer. Submit a question for ne...

Alcoholic Beverage Control, Military Murder Investigations, and Tribal Police 01.10.2023

Adam answers questions about: California's Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, who investigates murders involving the military, and the surprising limitation on Tribal Police law enforcement powers.

International Crime Rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, Proactive Investigations, and Transnational RICO Cases 02.08.2023

In this episode, Adam answers questions about investigating international crime rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, the difference between reactive and proactive investigations, and where prosecutions might happen for transnational RICO cases.

DA Investigators, Warrantless Arrests in the Home, and Cover-Ups 27.07.2023

Adam talks about a DA Investigator moving over to a police department as a detective, the legalities of making a warrantless arrest inside a suspect's home, and how to conduct a cover-up.

Threads App, Life Insurance Lookups, VINELink, Confidential Name Changes, Restraining Order Violations 12.07.2023

Adam talks about the new THREADS app, whether detectives can find out if someone is listed as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, victim notifications when an inmate is released from prison, confidential name changes, and violating protective orders.

WGA Strike, Mini Rooms, AI, Phone Warrant in a Homicide, and California Crime Labs 21.06.2023

In this episode, we dive into the ongoing WGA strike. We'll also explore the role of artificial intelligence in writing and storytelling, and how it's poised to change the way we create and consume content. Then, we'll answer some of your writing questions, including the logistics of obtaining phone records in a homicide case and which agencies can use California state crime labs.

Federal Inmate Escapes, Hawaiian Floaters, and a Foreign Leader Murder Suspect 03.05.2023

This week we are talking about what happens when a federal inmate escapes from prison, a body in Hawaiian waters, who handles the investigation if a murder victim is found in a visiting world leader's hotel room.

Disaster Fraud, Moving to a New State, and Percipient Witnesses 15.03.2023

This week, Adam answers questions about financial crimes, how a detective could go about becoming a police chief in another state, and he explains what it means to be a percipient witness.

Undercover FBI, Prisoner Release, Pyromania, and Gun Types 01.03.2023

Adam answers questions about a fictional FBI undercover story involving a prisoner release, pyromania, and gun types.

Why Choose to be a Detective -and- Martial Arts in Law Enforcement 15.02.2023

This week, we do a deep dive into why your character might want to be a police detective. Plus, I talk about police batons and martial arts in law enforcement. Transcript: writersdetective.com/129

US Marshal Task Forces, Warrant Time Restrictions, Good Faith 18.01.2023
Interview with Matthew Gentile - Writer and Director of AMERICAN MURDERER 24.10.2022

Adam interviews Matthew Gentile about writing and directing his new feature film, AMERICAN MURDERER.  This true-crime inspired movie stars Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, and Jackie Weaver.  Watch it now on iTunes, Amazon Video, or any other on-demand rental service.

UK vs. US CSI, Lying about Immunity, Ring Doorbell Footage 20.10.2022

The Writer's Detective Bureau is now also a video podcast on YouTube. In this episode, Adam talks about the differences between UK and US Crime Scene Investigation, the ramifications of a detective lying about immunity to a witness, and how police might obtain Ring doorbell footage.

Exonerations, Getting SWAT to a Victim, and Legalities of Eavesdropping 31.07.2022

Adam talks about exonerations after perjury, getting to a downed victim during a SWAT call, and the legalities of eavesdropping with a room bug.

Cold-ish Case, Civilians in LE, and Arrests Made Outside of Jurisdiction 13.07.2022

Register for Adam's upcoming writing workshop on Detective Character Mindset & Motivation. writersdetective.com/workshop In this episode, Adam talks about a cold-ish case scenario, civilian jobs in law enforcement, and how arrests made outside of your local jurisdiction are handled...plus some advice on writing for streaming services.  

Sketching a Crime Scene, Immigration in 1995, and Trespassing to get the Scoop 19.06.2022

Adam talks about sketching a crime scene, how immigration status violations were handled in California circa 1995, and what would happen if a journalist went trespassing to get the scoop on a major crime.

Inside Dispatch, Moving a Morgue, and Getting Investigative Help from Ma Bell 01.06.2022

Adam talks about how 9-1-1 calls get dispatched over the police radio, what would happen if the morgue becomes unusable, and how detectives worked with the phone company on investigations in the 1950s and 60s. writersdetective.com/122

Complaining About Paperwork, Fatal Hit & Run Investigations, and Suspect Extraditions 23.04.2022

Adam complains about his least favorite bureaucratic paperwork and then talks about fatal hit & run investigations and suspect extraditions.

Investigating False Accusations, Alphabet Soup Body Snatchers, and Investigating Decades-Old Remains 12.04.2022

Adam talks about investigating false allegations made against a detective, what would happen if Alphabet Soup feds barged in to take possession of a decedent, and the realities of investigating the remains of someone that died sixty or seventy years ago. writersdetective.com/120 writersdetective.com/ukraine

Personal Ties to a Homicide, Chalk Outlines, Jury Duty for Cops, and ChefsForUkraine 06.04.2022

Adam talks about what happens if a homicide detective has personal ties to a homicide victim, if chalk outlines are really used, whether cops can serve on a jury, and how reviewing this podcast on Podchaser.com can raise money for ChefsForUkraine during the #Reviews4Good campaign. writersdetective.com/119

Coroner Inquests, Small Town Sheriff or Police Chief, and different Investigative Divisions 29.03.2022

Adam explains what a Coroner's Inquest is and why inquests aren't used much anymore, the difference between a small-town Sheriff and Police Chief, and he talks about the various investigative units and their divisions. writersdetective.com/118

Fusion Centers, Brady List, and Teletypes 19.02.2022

Adam explains what DHS Fusion Centers do, what a Brady List is and how to use them in your writing, and we go old school tech with Teletypes.

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