Det. Cody Flanigan
Detective at Vernon Police Department
Detective Cody Flanigan has served with the Vernon Police Department for more than 10 years, spending the majority of his career investigating complex criminal cases ranging from narcotics to crimes against children. For the past five years, he has been assigned to crimes against children investigations, where he specializes in child exploitation cases, digital forensics, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) investigations. He is also a member of the Center for Digital Investigations, where he collaborates on advanced digital evidence and forensic investigations.
As the lead investigator on the featured case, Detective Flanigan coordinated a complex, multi-agency investigation involving law enforcement partners, prosecutors, the child victim, and the victim’s family. Through collaboration, persistence, and a victim-centered approach, the investigation resulted in the successful prosecution and imprisonment of a serial child predator.
Drawing from firsthand experience, Detective Flanigan will share practical lessons on managing complex investigations, coordinating with multiple agencies, leveraging digital evidence, and working collaboratively with victims, families, and prosecutors to achieve successful outcomes in crimes against children cases.
Workshop
Sessions
Investigating a Serial Child Predator: From Investigation to Conviction
This presentation examines the investigation and successful prosecution of a serial child predator, highlighting the complexity of a multi-agency response to crimes against children. Attendees will gain insight into the investigative strategies, coordination, and collaboration required to manage numerous moving pieces while maintaining a victim-centered approach.
The presentation emphasizes the critical role of cooperation from the child victim and the victim’s mother, as well as the partnership between investigators, the prosecutors’ office, and multiple law enforcement agencies. It explores how effective communication, collaboration, and persistence led to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the offender, ultimately resulting in a prison sentence and the removal of a dangerous child predator from the community.