Let's have a different conversation.

Whether you need a CPTED consultant, Calgary workplace investigation support, a criminal case file review or a speaker for your next event, the first step is the same: a confidential conversation. Dave Sweet reads every message himself and replies personally. There is no sales team and no obligation, just an honest discussion about what is happening and whether he can help.

What to include in your message

A few details help Dave respond quickly and usefully. Tell him what kind of help you are looking for, where the property or organization is located, roughly how urgent the matter is and any deadlines you are working toward, such as a board meeting, a court date, a production schedule or an event date.

For CPTED work, mention the type of site (for example an office, retail plaza, apartment or condominium building, parkade, school or place of worship), the issues you are seeing, such as break-ins, loitering, vandalism, theft or staff safety concerns, and whether you have incident records or security camera coverage. For investigations and reviews, a brief outline is enough to begin. Please do not send sensitive documents until you have spoken and agreed on next steps.

Working with a CPTED consultant: Calgary and beyond

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design looks at how the layout, lighting, landscaping, access points and day-to-day management of a site influence behaviour. As a CPTED consultant, Calgary-based Dave Sweet combines those principles with decades of experience investigating what actually happens when crimes occur. That perspective helps him see how an offender would view your property and which changes will make the biggest difference.

A typical CPTED assessment includes a conversation about your concerns, a review of any incident history, a site visit at the times that matter most (often including after dark), and a written report with clear, prioritized recommendations. Recommendations are practical and cost-conscious. Many involve lighting, sightlines, landscaping, signage, access control routines and maintenance rather than major construction. Dave can also train your staff to recognize and report issues, so improvements continue after the assessment is complete.

While Unconventional Consulting is based in Calgary and serves clients across the city and surrounding communities, Dave also works with organizations elsewhere in Alberta and across Canada. Remote reviews, virtual training and travel for site visits can all be arranged.

Why an investigator's eye matters in CPTED

Many CPTED reviews are completed by people who understand design well but have never investigated what happens after a crime. Dave's background is different. Over 25 years in policing, including 14 in homicide, he walked hundreds of scenes and learned how offenders choose locations, how they approach and leave, where they wait and what makes them move on. That knowledge shapes his recommendations. Instead of generic checklists, clients get advice grounded in how crime actually unfolds.

It also means he looks beyond the obvious. A well-lit entrance may still be vulnerable if the side door is regularly propped open for deliveries. A camera may be installed but pointed at the wrong spot, or recording over itself before anyone reviews it. A clean lobby may hide a stairwell that has quietly become a place to sleep, use drugs or wait unseen. Finding those gaps is where a CPTED consultant with investigative experience earns his fee.

Common CPTED issues we see in Calgary

Every city has its own patterns. In Calgary, recurring issues include underground and surface parkades with poor sightlines, back alleys and service corridors behind retail strips, garbage and recycling enclosures that offer cover, bike rooms and storage areas with weak access control, and landscaping that has grown well past what the original design intended. Long winter nights add another layer: lighting that seems adequate in July may leave key routes dark by late afternoon in December.

Seasonal changes, staff turnover and new tenants can also erode good design over time. That is why Dave Sweet recommends revisiting a site periodically, especially after renovations, changes in occupancy or a noticeable shift in incidents. A short follow-up visit is often enough to keep earlier improvements working as intended.

Preparing for your first call

You do not need to prepare anything formal. It helps to have a sense of the problem you are trying to solve, who else needs to be involved in decisions, and any budget or timing constraints. If you have photographs, a site plan or a summary of recent incidents, have them handy, but there is no need to send them in advance. The goal of the first conversation is simply to understand your situation and decide together whether and how to move forward.

Other ways Dave can help

Workplace investigations. Independent, confidential investigations into harassment, misconduct or theft, with fair, evidence-based conclusions and a clear written report.

Post-incident analysis. A fact-finding review of evidence, policies, procedures and interviews to understand what happened and how a similar event can be prevented.

Criminal case file reviews. Experienced review of homicide, suspicious death, missing-person, organized crime and other case files, handled with care and discretion.

Speaking and training. Keynotes and workshops on leadership, resilience, interviewing, persuasion, investigation principles and CPTED.

Media and production advisory. Accuracy and lived experience for true-crime, documentary, film, television, podcast and writing projects.

What happens after you get in touch

Dave will reply, usually within one to two business days, to arrange a call at a time that suits you. On that call he will ask questions, listen to your concerns and explain how he would approach the work. If it is a good fit, you will receive a written proposal outlining scope, timing and fees. If another professional would serve you better, he will tell you so and, where possible, point you in the right direction.

Everything you share is treated as confidential. Information is used only to understand and deliver the work you ask for.