| Central Time (CT) Online | November 13, 2025 | $795.00 + tax |
Persuasion is often misunderstood in investigative interviewing—too often linked with coercion, bias, or manipulation. This course reframes persuasion as an ethical, professional skill that helps interviewees choose to share meaningful information—without pressure or trickery.
Through case examples, discussion, and practical group exercises, you’ll learn how to:
- Distinguish motivation (helping someone find their own reasons to talk) from persuasion (guiding them toward fuller disclosure).
- Apply the PACER Framework (Purpose, Account, Challenge, Evidence, Responsibility) to uncover agendas, build trust, and sustain voluntary conversation.
- Use the Information Rocket metaphor to turn any response—denial, admission, or objection—into momentum for deeper dialogue.
- Avoid the traps of unethical persuasion that lead to unreliable or false accounts.
Designed for investigators, interviewers, and professionals in justice, HR investigators, compliance, and workplace investigations, this course provides practical tools to enhance both the quality and quantity of information you gather—while upholding ethics, fairness, and respect.
Final Takeaway: Ethical persuasion isn’t about getting people to say what we want. It’s about motivating them to share what they want us to know.
Bruce Pitt-Payne
Bruce Pitt-Payne honed his skills as a major crime investigator, interview specialist and advisor over his 26 year career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He is a subject- matter-expert on investigative techniques including interviewing adults (witnesses and suspects) and children.
For several years he was the Program Manager of Investigative Interviewing Training for the RCMP in British Columbia where he was instrumental in designing the RCMP Phased Interview Model which is the P.E.A.C.E. Model of Interviewing after an evolutionary adaptation to Canadian legal and ethical standards.
Bruce has taught witness and suspect interviewing skills both nationally and internationally. He prides himself on being able to explain complex matters in a manner that is easily understood. His teaching uses audio-visual material extensively, along with exercises based on realistic scenarios.
Since retirement from the RCMP, Bruce has dedicated his time to consulting and teaching both public and private sector organizations the science/art of investigative interviewing. He has designed the curriculum for and presented investigative interviewing to agencies such as: the Justice Institute of BC, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, the RCMP, the Professional Investigators Association of BC, the Independent Investigations Office of BC, Seattle Police Department, BC SPCA, UBC Security, the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC and WorkSafe BC.
Bruce has made multiple appearances on national media to discuss interviewing and other issues.
In June 2024, he was awarded the prestigious International Investigative Interviewing Research Group Practitioner Excellence Award.