Wicklander-Zulawski Names Dan Hoffman Director of Public Safety and Government Markets

WZ advances commitment to ethical interviewing & interrogation, de-escalation, and operational effectiveness across law enforcement and military organizations.

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, September 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) has appointed Dan Hoffman as Director of Public Safety and Government Markets, deepening its investment in the investigative skills, professional judgment, and communication capabilities that help agencies solve cases, protect personnel, and serve their communities.

Hoffman will lead public safety and government partnerships, working with agency leaders to develop their personnel through professional training aligned with their operational priorities. His responsibilities span local, state, and federal law enforcement, military organizations, corrections, and the broader public safety sector.

Founded in 1982, WZ has spent more than four decades advancing investigative interviewing and interrogation. Its training reaches investigators and detectives across federal agencies, major metropolitan police departments, and police and detective academies. That history drives a continuing commitment to advance investigative practice as research, case demands, and operational conditions evolve.

“An investigator’s ability to obtain accurate information determines the direction of an entire case,” said Dave Thompson, CEO of Wicklander-Zulawski. “Agencies need rigorous methods, experienced instructors, and training that holds up under operational pressure. We are investing in all three. Dan will help us deepen those relationships and bring more of WZ’s capabilities to the professionals who need them.”

Hoffman brings more than 27 years of experience, including service as a Captain with California’s Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, where he commanded the Patrol, Professional Standards, and Training divisions. As Training Division Commander, he oversaw training for 680 sworn personnel and the agency’s Law Enforcement Training Center. He previously served as Police Chief for Blackhawk Police Services under the Sheriff’s Office. His experience connects frontline operations, professional accountability, and the development of officers throughout their careers.

WZ’s investigative systems place ethical practice at the center of effective interviews and interrogations. Its approach emphasizes preparation, rapport, strategic questioning, and careful evaluation of accounts against available evidence. These methods help protect the integrity of statements, test competing explanations, and support impartial conclusions. The objective is reliable information that advances an investigation and withstands scrutiny.

The company’s criminal justice training offerings include Criminal Investigative Interviewing Techniques, Tactical Field Interviewing Techniques, Child Abuse Investigations and Homicide Investigation. Advanced practical workshops, trauma-informed interviewing, and preparation for the Certified Forensic Interviewer designation provide additional professional development. Together with de-escalation and crisis communication training, these programs strengthen capabilities from initial field encounters through complex investigative work.

Hoffman will help agencies build training plans that complement existing instruction and account for staffing, scheduling, and budget constraints. Regional hosting opportunities, in-person courses, live virtual instruction, on-demand learning, and practical workshops give departments multiple ways to develop personnel while maintaining operational coverage.

“Chiefs, Sheriffs, and investigative leaders need a partner who understands the demands on their people,” said Hoffman. “My job is to listen, identify where training can strengthen performance, and help agencies put it to work. That means relevant instruction, practical access, and a clear connection to the responsibilities their teams carry every day.”

That work supports community-focused policing through respectful treatment, impartial fact-finding, and communication that builds cooperation and trust. WZ’s commitment is to help agencies strengthen investigations, navigate difficult encounters safely, protect officers and the public, and contribute to safer streets.

WZ also provides grant-sourcing and funding resources and supports service members and veterans pursuing private-sector careers in investigations, security, and loss prevention. Guidance includes applicable GI Bill^® benefits and reimbursement pathways, subject to individual eligibility and VA approval of the specific course or examination.

Agency leaders and training managers are invited to contact Hoffman at dhoffman@w-z.com to discuss agency-specific training, regional hosting opportunities, and funding options.

About Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates

Since 1982, Wicklander-Zulawski has provided investigative interviewing and professional training to law enforcement, government, military, and private-sector professionals. Learn more at w-z.com.

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