Steve Novak

Career

Steve Novak is a U.S. Army veteran with more than 30 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Wilkes-Barre Police Department in Pennsylvania in 1994 before joining the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in 1999.

He has spent 24 years in criminal investigations, serving as a General Investigations Detective, Violent Crimes Detective, Special Victims Detective, Detective Sergeant, Homicide Detective Sergeant, and Homicide Detective. He spent 15 years in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Homicide Unit before joining the Broward Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit in 2023, where he serves today as a homicide detective and training detective.

Career Highlights

• 350+ homicide investigationsOver three decades of casework
• Lead investigator on nearly 100 homicide casesPrimary case detective
• 70+ officer-involved shootingsInvestigative support
• Court-recognized expertHistorical cellular record analysis and mapping

Courses at Polished Badge

Steve teaches homicide investigation through the cases he personally worked, emphasizing practical technique, critical thinking, and real-world application.

• The Sound of Silence: Investigative Strategies for Witness-Reluctant Homicides
  8-hour course