Andrew began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the City of Fairfax, serving as both a police officer and detective specializing in child sexual assault investigations. He later joined the City of Cotati in Sonoma County, where he worked as a detective and police officer focusing on general crimes, while also serving on an interdiction team responsible for apprehending drug smugglers. His career culminated with over thirteen years as a detective in Placer County, where he specialized in homicide and robbery investigations. During his time in Placer, he also spent approximately six years as an undercover detective on a statewide task force investigating drug sales and homicides.
In addition to his investigative roles, Andrew served ten years on the SWAT team, including as team leader for the Sniper Element. He was also a firearms instructor for twelve years, sharing his expertise in weapon handling and safety with fellow officers. Throughout his career, he dedicated himself to protecting communities and upholding justice across multiple jurisdictions in California.
Articles by Andrew Lyssand
Do Misdemeanors Show Up on Background Checks? What Employers and Applicants Need to Know
Misdemeanors are among the most misunderstood components of a background check. Applicants worry whether their record will cost them a job. Employers…
Finding Closure: Cold Case Support for Victims' Families
The word "closure" gets used freely in conversations about cold case investigations, and it deserves to be examined carefully. For many families, what…
Strategic Surveillance and Early Warning: Systems for Boards and Executives
Strategic surveillance is the continuous, disciplined scanning of the operating environment for signals that should change a leadership team's plans…
Is Catfishing Illegal? Laws, Criminal Charges, and Legal Recourse
Is catfishing illegal? The answer depends on what the catfisher actually did, and the jurisdiction. Catfishing as a general practice (creating a false…
The Psychology of Cheating: Why People Are Unfaithful
Understanding why people cheat does not excuse infidelity. It does help people make sense of something that otherwise feels incomprehensible. When a…
Cold Case Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains: The Two Ends of One Problem
Every long-term missing persons case is one side of a two-sided problem. Somewhere else, there may be a set of unidentified remains belonging to that…
The Psychology of Catfishing: Why It Works and Why It's Hard to See
Understanding the psychology of catfishing does not require assuming that victims are naive. It requires understanding how skilled manipulation works…
How to Spot Financial Fraud: Signs, Red Flags, and What to Do
Financial fraud rarely announces itself. It operates in the gaps between what people expect and what they look at. The best fraud prevention is…
Employee Theft: How to Detect, Investigate, and Prevent It
Employee theft is the most common form of occupational fraud, and it is also the most underreported. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners…
Executive Background Checks: What Boards Need and How to Get It
Boards of directors oversee executive conduct and select the CEO and other senior executives. That responsibility includes making sure executives have…
How to Report Business Fraud: Options and What to Expect
Reporting business fraud means navigating multiple channels. Each has different procedures, protections, and likely outcomes. You may be a fraud…
Compliance Risk Assessment: How to Build a Framework
A compliance risk assessment is the systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing the legal and regulatory risks facing an…
Pre-Acquisition Due Diligence: What Buyers Need to Know
Pre-acquisition due diligence is the buyer's systematic investigation of a target company before closing a transaction. It serves two purposes…
Background Investigations for Attorneys: Uses in Litigation and Client Matters
Background investigations are a routine tool in litigation practice, and they apply across practice areas. Attorneys use them to understand an…
What Is Litigation Support and How Does It Help Attorneys?
Litigation support covers the full range of services and resources that help attorneys prepare and try cases. It is not a single service but a…
Business Continuity Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide
Business continuity planning prepares an organization to maintain essential functions during and after a disruption. Crisis management addresses the…
Conflict Resolution in the Workplace: Strategies That Actually Work
Workplace conflict is inevitable. People with different perspectives, communication styles, and priorities work together under pressure, and friction…
How to Recover Data from an SD Card
SD cards and other flash memory media fail more often than most people expect. Deleted or corrupted data on these cards is often recoverable. You may…
How to Recover Deleted Text Messages: What's Actually Possible
Deleted text messages are not always gone. Whether you are recovering messages for personal reasons, supporting litigation, or conducting a workplace…
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