The Interview and Investigating Serial Violent Crimes: What Canada Police Learn About Evil That Never Leaves Them
West Palm Beach, Fl - The Interview and Investigating Serial Violent Crimes: What Canada Police Learn About Evil That Never Leaves Them.
Behind every serial crime investigation is a police officer carrying memories the public will never see.
Every day, millions of people consume true crime.
They scroll through Facebook, watch dramatic investigations on YouTube, discuss shocking cases on Instagram, and follow breaking News about serial killers, child predators, and violent offenders. Millions also tune into the podcast on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and iHeartRadio, where law enforcement stories continue to captivate audiences around the world.
But while the public focuses on the criminals...
Few ever stop to think about the investigator.
The detective.
The police officer sitting across the interview table from someone capable of unimaginable violence.
For retired Canadian police executive Jenn Hyland, that wasn't entertainment.
It was her career.
In this compelling interview on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, Hyland pulls back the curtain on a lifetime spent interviewing serial child predators, investigating violent offenders, leading homicide investigations, and managing the emotional burden that comes with confronting evil every single day.
The Interview Begins Long Before the Suspect Enters the Room
Movies have created a false image of police interviews.
Detectives storm into interrogation rooms.
They slam files onto the table.
Within minutes, the suspect confesses.
Reality couldn't be more different.
"The interview actually begins long before the suspect walks into the room," Hyland explains.
Professional investigators spend hours, and often days, preparing before asking a single question.
They study evidence.
Review timelines.
Analyze witness statements.
Research behavioral patterns.
Develop interview strategies.
Prepare for deception.
Every possible answer is anticipated before the recorder is ever switched on.
As Hyland explains:
"The investigator's job is to discover the truth, not simply obtain a confession."
That philosophy became the cornerstone of a remarkable policing career.
A Career Built One Call at a Time
Like many police officers, Jenn Hyland didn't begin her career investigating serial offenders.
She started as a patrol officer with the New Westminster Police Department in British Columbia.
Each shift presented a different challenge.
Domestic violence.
Traffic collisions.
Mental health crises.
Missing children.
Violent assaults.
Unexpected deaths.
Those early years taught lessons no academy ever could.
No two calls are alike.
No two victims respond the same way.
No two investigations follow the same path.
Those experiences became the foundation that prepared her for some of Canada's most difficult criminal investigations.
Joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Hyland later joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world.
The RCMP investigates crimes that often span provinces, borders, and multiple jurisdictions.
Organized crime.
Financial crime.
Cybercrime.
Major homicide investigations.
Violent serial offenders.
Working within the RCMP exposed Hyland to increasingly complex investigations while refining the interview techniques that would make her one of Canada's leading experts in serious violent crime investigations.
Interviewing a Serial Child Predator
Some investigations never leave you.
One of Hyland's most unforgettable cases involved interviewing a serial child predator responsible for victimizing dozens of children.
These cases require extraordinary care.
Investigators must obtain crucial evidence while minimizing additional trauma to victims.
Every interview matters.
Every statement matters.
Every overlooked detail can jeopardize justice for countless families.
"The goal isn't simply to solve one crime," Hyland says.
"It's to build a case that withstands every challenge inside the courtroom."
That requires patience.
Preparation.
Understanding human behavior.
And extraordinary professionalism.
Looking Evil in the Eye
One misconception many people have is that investigators simply confront monsters.
Experienced detectives know better.
They focus on facts.
Evidence.
Behavior.
Contradictions.
Professional investigators cannot allow emotion to interfere with objectivity.
As Hyland explains:
"Understanding criminal behavior doesn't mean sympathizing with criminals. It means learning how they think so you can expose deception and uncover the truth."
That discipline often becomes an investigator's greatest asset.
When the Investigation Becomes Personal
One interview proved especially difficult.
Hyland found herself interviewing a mother accused of murdering her own child.
At that point in her own life, she was raising children.
Suddenly, the professional and personal worlds collided.
Police officers are trained to remain objective.
But they are also parents.
Spouses.
Children.
Neighbors.
Human beings.
Sitting across from a parent accused of killing a child demands emotional discipline unlike almost any other profession.
Justice requires facts.
Not feelings.
But investigators don't simply leave those emotions behind when they leave the station.
The Hidden Trauma Behind Every Investigation
True crime documentaries usually end with an arrest.
Real police work doesn't.
Investigators drive home carrying memories that never fade.
Crime scene photographs.
Victim interviews.
Parents grieving unimaginable loss.
Family dinners interrupted by homicide calls.
Vacations canceled.
Sleepless nights replaying investigations.
The emotional weight builds slowly over decades.
Many investigators continue serving their communities while privately carrying years of cumulative trauma.
Hyland believes that invisible burden deserves far greater recognition, not only within policing, but by society as a whole.
Building the Surrey Police Service
After an accomplished RCMP career, Hyland accepted one of the biggest leadership challenges of her career.
She became part of the executive team responsible for helping establish the Surrey Police Service, guiding one of the largest policing transitions in Canadian history.
Creating a brand-new police department required vision.
Leadership.
Strategic planning.
Recruitment.
Training.
Community engagement.
It wasn't simply about replacing one agency with another.
It was about building public trust from the ground up.
From Police Executive to Author
Retirement didn't end Hyland's commitment to public service.
She became an author, publishing Tightrope: Balancing Duty with Courage and Conviction, a book examining the difficult leadership decisions police executives face throughout their careers.
Its lessons extend well beyond law enforcement.
Every leader eventually walks a tightrope.
Balancing accountability with compassion.
Duty with family.
Conviction with humility.
Those lessons resonate whether someone leads a police department, a business, or a nonprofit organization.
More Than Another True Crime Story
This isn't simply another serial killer story.
It isn't another documentary about violent offenders.
It's the story behind the investigation.
The investigators.
The professionals who spend careers confronting humanity's darkest moments so victims have a voice and justice has a chance.
Jenn Hyland offers listeners a rare perspective into investigative interviewing, serial violent crime investigations, police leadership, officer wellness, and the cumulative trauma carried by those who protect our communities.
Her interview reminds us that behind every headline...
Behind every arrest...
Behind every courtroom conviction...
There is an investigator carrying memories the public will never see.
Listen to the Complete Interview
If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about policing, criminal investigations, leadership, true crime, and the human side of law enforcement, don't miss this powerful episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast.
Available on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and most major podcast platforms.
If this story resonates with you, please share it on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and your favorite social media platforms.
Every share helps others better understand the extraordinary work, and hidden sacrifices, made by investigators who spend their careers protecting children, seeking justice for victims, and confronting evil so the rest of us don't have to.
Attributions
Amazon
Wikipedia
Comments
Post a Comment