True crime consultant & media advisory
Authenticity matters
Professional consultation for true-crime, documentary, journalism, film and writing projects.
Looking for accuracy in your true-crime production? Or a way to make film and writing stand out with details that captivate an audience?
From character development to the accurate layout of crime scenes, Dave’s law-enforcement experience helps producers and writers find the details that make a story credible.
Film, television, podcasts, journalism and books
Audiences can tell when a crime story rings false. A detective who behaves in ways no investigator would, a crime scene that makes no sense, an interview that could never happen: small errors break the spell. Working with a true crime consultant who spent 14 years in homicide gives your production the authenticity that keeps viewers, listeners and readers invested.
Dave Sweet brings 25 years of Canadian law-enforcement experience to creative and journalistic projects. He has led major-case investigations, worked undercover and on organized-crime task forces, sat across the table from suspects and supported families through the worst days of their lives. He has also been on the other side of the camera many times, offering context on investigations and public safety in television interviews, and he is the author of Skeletons in My Closet and Undaunted and the host of the true-crime podcast The Ride Along.
Story and script review. Dave reads treatments, scripts and manuscripts with an investigator's eye, flagging procedural errors, unrealistic timelines and dialogue that does not sound like real police officers, suspects or witnesses. He suggests alternatives that keep the drama while improving accuracy.
Character development. Detectives, victims, offenders and families are more compelling when their motivations and behaviour feel real. Dave helps writers and actors understand how people in these roles think, speak and react under pressure.
Crime scene and procedure accuracy. From the layout of a crime scene to how evidence is handled, how interviews are conducted and how a case moves toward charges, he helps productions get the details right.
On-set and behind-the-scenes advisory. For film and television, Dave can advise during production so that blocking, props and performances reflect how investigations actually unfold.
Documentary and journalism support. Documentary makers, podcasters and reporters use a true crime consultant to understand investigative context, interpret public information, frame questions for experts and avoid misrepresenting how police work is done.
True crime involves real victims and real families. As a true crime consultant, Dave Sweet encourages productions to tell stories honestly without sensationalizing harm or reopening wounds unnecessarily. He can help teams think through how a story will be received by those most affected and how to present difficult material responsibly. That approach tends to produce better work, and it protects your project's reputation.
Dave is regularly asked to comment on investigations, public safety, family violence prevention, suspicious deaths, missing-person cases and resilience. Selected Global News interviews are featured on the home page. Journalists and producers looking for an experienced, articulate voice on these topics are welcome to get in touch. He is careful to comment only on what is appropriate and never to speculate in ways that could harm an active investigation.
Some errors appear in crime stories again and again. Cases are solved in days when real major-case investigations can take months or years. A single detective does everything, when in reality a homicide file is worked by a team with defined roles. Evidence results arrive overnight. Suspects confess after one dramatic question. Officers ignore disclosure, warrants and the rules that govern how evidence can be used in court.
Canadian productions face a particular trap: borrowing American procedure. Police structures, legal language, rights advisements and court processes in Canada differ from what audiences see in many U.S. shows. A true crime consultant with Canadian experience helps a Canadian story sound like it actually happened here.
None of this means drama has to be sacrificed. Often the real process offers better material than the cliché: the tension of waiting on a key result, the pressure of a looming court date, the careful strategy behind an interview, or the emotional weight investigators carry home at the end of a shift.
True crime podcasts and YouTube channels have become some of the most popular storytelling formats in the world. Many are produced by small, passionate teams working from public records, news coverage and court documents. Dave Sweet can help those teams understand what the documents actually mean, which questions an investigator would ask, what might explain gaps in the public record and where speculation could unfairly harm real people.
He can also join an episode as a guest to discuss how investigations work in general terms, drawing on his own experience hosting The Ride Along. For creators building a long-running series, an ongoing relationship with a true crime consultant can raise the quality and credibility of every episode.
Novelists and screenwriters often need help with specific moments: how a body would be discovered and reported, who arrives at the scene first, how long each step takes, what a detective would notice, and how an interview room really feels. Dave answers those questions in plain language and can review chapters or scenes as the work develops. Writers find that accurate details free them to focus on character and plot, confident that the procedural backbone will hold up with knowledgeable readers.
Projects vary widely, so engagements are flexible. Some writers need a single consultation to check a key scene. Some productions need ongoing script review over several months. Some documentary teams need a true crime consultant on call during filming. Dave will talk through your project, timeline and budget, suggest a sensible scope and agree on confidentiality before any material is shared. Non-disclosure agreements are welcome.
Work can be completed remotely from Calgary or on location, and Dave has experience working with independent creators as well as larger production companies.
Questions
Feature films, television series, documentaries, podcasts, journalism, novels, non-fiction books and stage productions. If your project involves crime, policing or investigations, he can help make it more accurate.
As early as possible. Advice at the script or outline stage is easier and less expensive to act on than changes during production or editing.
Yes. Scripts, manuscripts and production details are treated as confidential, and Dave is happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before reviewing anything.
He will provide general context on how investigations work, but he will not speculate about active cases in ways that could affect the investigation, the people involved or a future trial.
Yes. Much consulting work can be done remotely. His experience is in Canadian policing, and he will be clear about where procedures differ in other countries.
Call 587-575-5813 or send a short description of your project through the contact page. Include the format, stage of development and timeline, and Dave will follow up.
Yes. In addition to working behind the scenes, Dave can appear as an on-camera expert to explain how investigations work, what investigators look for and how cases affect families and communities. Appearances are discussed case by case to make sure the context is appropriate.
Fees depend on the scope. Single consultations are usually billed hourly, while script reviews and production advisory are quoted as a project fee. Terms are agreed in writing before work begins.
Yes. Late-stage reviews are common. Dave will prioritize issues that most affect credibility so you can fix what matters within your remaining time and budget, and he will note smaller details you may choose to leave as creative licence.
Often, yes, depending on timing. Producers and journalists can call 587-575-5813 or use the contact page. Include your deadline and the topic so Dave can confirm quickly whether he is able to help.