Christian Cory
Practitioner. Trainer. Researcher. Speaker. A modern investigative leader advancing the discipline of science-based interviewing.
Capt. Christian Cory (Ret.)
Information Gatherer Extraordinaire & Conflict Whisperer
A career built on better questions.
Captain Christian Cory (ret.) is a leader in science-based interviewing with more than 26 years of investigative experience. Over the arc of that career, he has worked the most consequential cases an investigator can encounter — and led the practitioners who work them every day.
As a homicide and sex crimes detective, then crisis negotiation commander, and later as an investigations command leader at the Wichita Police Department, Christian saw the cost of legacy interviewing firsthand. Coercive, confession-driven techniques produced statements that contaminated cases, eroded trust, and could not withstand scrutiny.
In response, he championed a different discipline: science-based interviewing built on rapport, active listening, Strategic Use of Evidence, cognitive techniques, red teaming, and bias reduction. Under his leadership, the Crimes Against Persons Bureau modernized its interviewing practices — and the results followed. Fatal-shooting clearance rates rose from 62% to 86%. Non-fatal shooting clearances rose from 38% to 61%.
Beyond his operational career, Christian's work bridges practice and research. He is Co-Director of Project Aletheia, an Executive Fellow at the National Policing Institute, a NIJ LEADS Scholar, and a contributor to Leadercraft. He has been published in Police Chief Magazine and contributes to ongoing research on differential police response, tele-policing, and IPV follow-up interventions.
His academic grounding in forensic psychology and criminology informs every program he builds — ensuring that what he teaches is not only operationally effective, but scientifically defensible.
From detective to discipline-builder.
Law Enforcement Career
A full career spanning patrol, investigations, command, and crisis negotiation — culminating in retirement as Captain at the Wichita Police Department.
Homicide Detective
Worked the most consequential cases in the department — building the discipline and patience required for high-stakes interviewing.
Sex Crimes Detective
Specialized in victim-centered interviewing and trauma-informed practice, where reliability and dignity are inseparable.
Crisis Negotiation Command
Commanded crisis negotiation teams in life-or-death situations — where every word carries weight and every assumption has consequences.
Investigations Command — Wichita PD
Led the Crimes Against Persons Bureau and modernized investigative interviewing across homicide, sex crimes, and cold case work.
SBI Implementation
Drove the systemic shift from confession-driven, legacy interviewing to science-based, evidence-validated methods across an entire bureau.
Project Aletheia & Leadercraft
Co-Director of Project Aletheia; contributor to Leadercraft — bridging operational practice and academic research.
National Policing Institute & NIJ LEADS
Executive Fellow at the National Policing Institute and NIJ LEADS Scholar — recognized voice in national policing reform.
Upgrade the Way Your Organization Gathers Information.
Bring evidence-based interviewing, red teaming, and defensible decision-making into your agency, company, or leadership team.