A former Harris County prosecutor who literally wrote the book on proper arrest, search and seizure procedures will share his knowledge with Bee County peace officers next month.

District Attorney Martha Warner invited Ted Wilson to train peace officers on how to properly execute warrantless searches and drafting search warrants.

Peace officers from Live Oak and McMullen counties, which are also in Warner’s jurisdiction, are invited to attend the two-day workshop, scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8.

“This is such an important issue for our officers,” Warner said. “They are required to make quick decisions when making traffic stops. If they do not conduct the stop properly, important evidence can and will be suppressed before trial.”

Usually the suppressed evidence is narcotics evidence, Warner noted. “But how foolish will law enforcement look if a body is found in a suspect’s trunk and the case is thrown out?”

L.E. “Ted” Wilson III, who recently retired as chief of the special crimes bureau for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, has worked with Warner and her staff in the past.

Wilson, a career prosecutor with 29 years of experience, once supervised more than 60 prosecuting attorneys and is a frequent lecturer, author and speaker for numerous law organizations and associates across the state.

Among his many publications, Wilson has co-authored Warrants Manual for Arrest, Search and Seizure, 2000 edition.

“Officers and prosecutors have come to rely on the best basic ‘how-to’ guide through the often-confusing world of search and seizure,” the Texas District & County Attorney Association reported. “The search and seizure manual takes you through statutes, case law and real-life examples, with handy forms and examples to follow.”

Wilson is a graduate of St. Edward’s University and received his juris doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law.

He is an instructor at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.

He is an instructor at the Houston Police Department Academy, Harris County Sheriff’s Academy, Texas District and County Attorney’s Association, Texas Department of Public Safety and Midwestern Counterdrug Training Center. He is also a guest instructor for the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association, Vermont State’s Attorney’s Association, Houston H.I.D.T.A. and numerous police and prosecution agencies throughout Texas.

“Ted Wilson trains officers, attorneys and judges all over the nation,” Warner said. “He has been helping me for years when I have had questions regarding search and seizure cases.”

Wilson will cover warrantless searches during the four-hour session on Thursday, Oct. 8. He will cover the drafting of search warrants on Friday, Oct. 9, for four hours.

Warner encourages all law enforcement agencies in Bee, Live Oak and McMullen counties to send their officers to the workshops.

Peace officers who attend the workshops will receive as much as 12 hours of free TCLEOSE hours for 2009-10, Warner said.