Our Instructors

William Cogswell

William Cogswell is a retired Norfolk Police homicide detective and team leader with experience investigating homicides, undetermined and accidental deaths, and other major incidents, including more than 30 infant deaths during his career. He served as lead investigator in approximately 100 homicide cases and assisted with several hundred more. Experienced in death investigations, crime scene coordination, evidence recovery, interviews, investigative documentation, and instruction for sworn officers, William now serves the public as a private investigator and training instructor.

William served as a Homicide Squad Detective and Team Leader with the Norfolk Police Department from September 2012 to February 2016 and again from September 2016 to June 2021. From 2016 to 2021 he led a four-person homicide team and coordinated investigative assignments and crime scene work. He investigated homicides, undetermined and accidental deaths, abductions, felonious assaults, shootings into occupied structures and vehicles, and police involved shootings, along with more than 30 infant deaths involving natural, accidental, intentional, and undetermined circumstances. He directed crime scene and evidence recovery efforts, prepared laboratory submissions, documented and transferred evidence, and interviewed victims, witnesses, and suspects.

William began his Norfolk Police career as a Police Officer and Community Resource Officer from July 2009 to July 2012, where he responded to calls, completed investigative reports, testified in court, and worked with residents and community groups. From July to September 2012 he served as a General Assignment Detective, conducting assigned investigations, responding to crime scenes, supporting command investigations, and coordinating evidence recovery and interviews.

William has also been an instructor throughout his career. As a Defensive Tactics Training Instructor for the Norfolk Police Department from July 2010 to June 2021, he trained entry level personnel and provided in service instruction to sworn officers under department and Virginia DCJS requirements, while maintaining training records and supporting safe, standards based instruction. From February to September 2016 he served as a Training Instructor for the department, researching changes in laws and training requirements and delivering entry level and in service instruction. Before joining the department, he worked as a martial arts instructor in Virginia Beach from 2000 to 2010, teaching self defense techniques and conducting seminars for students at affiliated schools.

William earned his Virginia private investigator credential in 2025 and completed 02E Private Investigator training at the 1st Virginia Public Safety Training Academy that same year. He holds an associate degree in Public Safety from Herzing University (2015) and completed Criminal Justice studies at Tidewater Community College from 2008 to 2009.

His selected investigative and instructor training includes Officer Involved Shooting Investigations through PATC (2014), Fire Death Investigations through the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office (2012), General Instructor School through DCJS/NPD (2012), Detection of Deception and Critical Interviewing Skills through DCJS (2011), and Defensive Tactics Instructor School through DCJS (2011).

William’s honors include the Hampton Roads Chamber Valor Awards Investigative Merit Award and Investigator of the Year (2017), Norfolk Police letters of commendation (2010, 2015, and 2021), the Norfolk Police Life Saving Award (2010), and the Norfolk Police Academy Class 84 Kit Hurst Award (2009).

Outside of law enforcement, William has worked as a Legal Assistant with J.C. Paralegal Services, Inc. in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, VA, from June 2022 to the present and previously from February 2004 to February 2008, preparing estate planning documents for attorneys and law firms and managing production schedules, document customization, and deadlines. From 1994 to 1999 he owned Forever Green Landscape Services in Bridgewater, MA, where he managed client accounts, staffing, purchasing, billing, and business development.