HNOA 2026 – Class & Instructor Details
24 February 2026, Tuesday (1:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
Free Day Open to the Public
Nihilistic Violent Extremist Group “764”: The Intersection of Terrorism, Violent Extremism, and Child Sexual Exploitation
This presentation brings together law enforcement experts to shed light on the dangerous overlap between terrorism, violent extremism, and child sexual exploitation. The session is designed to raise awareness, prevent victimization, and empower the public with knowledge to recognize and resist deceptive tactics used by criminal networks.
​
Key focus areas include:
Ø Understanding the Threats: How extremist groups exploit vulnerable populations and use deception to recruit or manipulate.
​
Ø Prevention Strategies: Practical steps individuals and families can take to safeguard against exploitation and radicalization.
​
Ø Community Awareness: Building resilience through education, vigilance, and collaboration with law enforcement.
​
Ø Public Partnership: Encouraging open dialogue between officers and community members to strengthen trust and collective safety.
​
The goal of this presentation is to inform, protect, and unite communities against these interconnected threats, ensuring that no one is deceived or left vulnerable.
25 February 2026, Wednesday (8:00 am - 10:00 am)
Law Enforcment Only
Opening Ceremony & Awards
25 February 2026, Wednesday (10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
Law Enforcment Only
Local Case Review
25 February 2026, Wednesday (1:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
Law Enforcment Only
Chasing Money
Did you get the dope but not the money?
Did you find cash, but were left thinking that there might be more unaccounted for?
Billions of dollars in illicit money are laundered throughout the United States each year. There are hundreds of violations that occur in every state, however very few cases are ever investigated. Money laundering cases are not as complex as they appear, and you do not need a degree in accounting to investigate them. This class is designed for the officer who wants to learn the basics of money laundering investigations.
Topics include: How to work a money laundering case with limited resources; How to locate a suspects undiscovered bank accounts; Non-traditional sources of evidence and information; How to identify criminal indicators in Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR’s).
​
Instructor - Aaron Edens
Aaron Edens is an Intelligence Analyst with a metropolitan county Sheriff’s Office and a retired Hayward Police Officer, where he spent over half his career in the Intelligence Unit. He previously served on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force—International Terrorism/Middle Eastern Organized Crime Squad and worked multiple OCDETF cases involving electronic surveillance. A forensic cellular examiner since 2005, he has completed thousands of mobile device investigations and is a court-recognized expert in multiple states. Mr. Edens was named California Narcotics Officers’ Association Instructor of the Year in 2020 and 2022 and regularly teaches for the California POST Institute of Criminal Investigation.
26 February 2026, Thursday (8:00 am - 12:00 pm)
Law Enforcment Only
Interdiction & K9 Utilization in Narcotics Investigations
The K9 Utilization Presentation is a comprehensive training session designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of how law enforcement canine teams are deployed, the legal standards that govern their use, and the science behind their remarkable abilities. The course begins with an introduction to patrol dog utilization and the application of the Graham v. Connor use-of-force standard to K9 operations, supported by video demonstrations and case examples. Attendees will explore residential searches, narcotics detection, parcel interdiction, and specialized techniques such as identifying compartments, voids, and residual odor alerts. The presentation also covers how officers can effectively assist K9 teams, the importance of understanding odor and scent dispersion, and the extraordinary olfactory capabilities of working breeds like German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labradors. In addition, participants will receive training on fentanyl investigations, including certification requirements and critical safety concerns when handling this dangerous substance. Video presentations will demonstrate canine obedience to odors, their ability to work through distractions, and their effectiveness in detecting contraband even when odors are masked.
Legal considerations are woven throughout, including case law on whisper stops, dwellings, body carry, marijuana odor, and restrictions on when K9s may or may not be used. Participants will also examine courtroom challenges, contamination of U.S. currency, forfeiture issues, and the role of defense experts in testimony. Emphasis is placed on maintaining canine health and welfare to ensure reliability and longevity in service, while also preparing officers to testify effectively and defend canine alerts under cross-examination. The session concludes with an open discussion, allowing participants to clarify complex topics, share experiences, and leave with practical knowledge to support K9 operations effectively, lawfully, and safely in the evolving landscape of narcotics enforcement.
​
Instructor: Gary Hadden
Detective Gary Hadden is currently a Criminal Interdiction Unit K9 handler and Trainer for the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and is also a Task Force Officer for Homeland Security Investigations. Detective Hadden started his career in Broward County Florida in 1990 and became a K9 handler in 1995. Hadden has worked many interdiction details in South Florida, including the Blue Lightning Task Force, Multi-jurisdictional counter drug task force and Broward County Pipe-Line Task Force. Hadden has worked multiple canines (Patrol, Narcotics and Bomb) over his twenty-nine-year k9 career and has been on thousands of deployments. Detective Hadden Joined the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana in 1998 which later merged to become the current Indianapolis Metro P.D. Hadden has been training k9 teams for many years and continues to be the head trainer for IMPD’s Narcotic detection, Cadaver, missing persons, and Arson dog teams. Hadden is also a certified instructor through the Drug Interdiction Acceptance Program-El Paso Intelligence Center (DIAP-EPIC) and teaches k9 and interdiction courses throughout the Nation. Detective Hadden continues to run a parcel interdiction program at the FedEx Hub at the Indianapolis Airport, where drugs and drug trafficking proceeds in the millions have been seized. Detective Hadden has been imprinting and training canine teams for the detection of Fentanyl and has given presentations on the imprinting and training on Fentanyl detection and court testimony.
26 February 2026, Thursday (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Law Enforcment Only
Internet Profiling and Intelligence Gathering
This class will explore cellular platform security issues and online personal security risks. Additionally, it will provide step-by-step, in-depth research techniques utilizing online and open-source (OSINT) databases located on the web. It will cover techniques in locating “hidden” information on a subject’s web presence from public records, criminal records, and social networking profiles, in addition to showing open sources available for geolocating tweets and Instagram photos as soon as they have been posted. The class will further demonstrate how to utilize the internet as an effective investigative research tool (by manipulating search criteria) in locating and creating an entire profile on an individual, gang intelligence, security/counterintelligence or corporate intelligence. This is a dynamic and entertaining presentation full of invaluable information and strategies. A must-see class for narcotic investigators, gang investigators, and analysts.
Instructor: Michele Stuart
With over thirty years of investigative experience and twenty-six years of running her own company, Ms. Stuart is an expert in a range of investigative fields, including OSINT, counterintelligence, insurance fraud investigations, financial investigations, threat assessments, due diligence, organized retail crime, corporate and competitive intelligence.
Ms. Stuart consults and trains a variety of clients, including federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, military intelligence communities, Fortune 500 companies, as well as financial and insurance industries. Her focus is on open source intelligence, social media, and threat assessments and mitigation. She has also served as an Instructor at Quantico (FBI Academy), teaching international training in OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence).
In 2017, Ms. Stuart collaborated with the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security to create a program called "Keeping Kids Safe." This program provides training to administrators, principals, teachers, SRO’s, and parents on the dangers of online and social media activity, predator grooming, as well as the dangers of applications and cellular security.
26 February 2026, Thursday (5:00pm - Until Complete)
Law Enforcment Only
Presidents Reception (To be announced at event)
27 February 2026, Friday (8:00 am - 12:00 pm)
Law Enforcment Only
Inside Look at a Drug Cartel
This class will provide an Inside Look into an investigation of two different drug cartels from the perspective of the Undercover Officer-Octavio “Orod” Rodriguez. The use of two high-profile mercenary informants, the lead supervisor, and the investigative steps and tactics used to identify and disrupt these organizations will be discussed.
Instructor(s):
Criminal Investigator Brandon Olivera
Criminal Investigator Brandon Olivera has been a law enforcement officer for over 29 years and recently retired. Shortly after retirement he was hired by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office as a Criminal Investigator and was tasked with assisting in rebuilding their narcotics bureau. He is now assigned to conduct fentanyl overdose death investigations. Before retirement from the Placer County District Attorney’s Office in November of 2023 he achieved the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned as the Task Force Commander of a Central Valley HIDTA team known as TRIDENT. Throughout over twenty years of working drug investigations he and his team have led state and federal wiretap investigations and investigated major drug violators operating in the Central Valley of California, throughout the United States and Internationally. Brandon is a lifetime member of CNOA and was chosen as the 2023 Alfred E Stewart Memorial Award Recipient.
Special Agent Octavio “O Rod” Rodriguez
Special Agent Octavio “O Rod” Rodriguez began his Law Enforcement career with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in 2006 and has served honorably for the last 18 years. He has worked in the East Los Angeles and South Sacramento Area Offices and has been a member of the Advanced Officer Safety Training program, Warrant Service Team, Special Response Team and currently assigned to the Division’s Investigative Services Unit. Prior to joining the CHP, Special Agent Rodriguez obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and served his country in the United States Marine Corps. Special Agent Rodriguez is currently assigned to a HIDTA Narcotics Task Force (TRIDENT) that works closely with Local, State and Federal Agencies throughout California. Special Agent Rodriguez has spent the last 8 years working mainly in an undercover capacity and has successfully infiltrated several Drug Trafficking Organizations and Transnational Criminal Organizations alike. He has worked throughout the entire state of California, Other US States and in South America. Through his efforts and with the assistance of his teammates, their investigations have gained national attention on multiple levels. In 2019, Special Agent Rodriguez was named the Narcotics Officer of the Year and was awarded the Alfred E. Stewart Award; a high honor obtained through the California Narcotics Officer Association. In 2021, Special Agent Rodriguez was recognized as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Detective of the Year for the California Central Valley (CV HIDTA). Special Agent Rodriguez remains active in Undercover Operations and handles several high-level Mercenary’s. He obtained his Academy Instructor (POST) Certificate and has begun teaching / consulting throughout the United States working alongside other well respected and sought-after instructors. Through collaborative efforts, research and face to face encounters, Special Agent Rodriguez provides an in depth look at Mexican Drug Cartels and the subculture that surrounds it; both in the past and present. The relevant information gained through hands on experience serves to better educate not only those currently active in the war against drugs, but the community at large.