Meet Dave Sweet
A different perspective.
A lifetime of stories.
Detective, author, speaker — and a student of the extraordinary people we meet in the most unexpected places.
The world is a classroom
Real experience.
Human lessons.
Dave spent 25 years in Canadian policing, moving from patrol and undercover work to gang and organized crime investigations. For 14½ years, he investigated homicides, missing persons and suspicious deaths.
The people behind those cases shaped his understanding of courage, leadership and resilience. Today, he brings that perspective to audiences and organizations through keynote talks, workshops, books and conversation.
Explore speaking →Service & recognition
A career built on commitment.
Dave received the Chief’s Award for Investigative Excellence in 2017, the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal in 2021, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022. His work has appeared on CBC’s The Detectives, Global’s Crime Beat, Investigation Discovery’s Murder Board and Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries.
His service continues in a senior leadership role with a First Nations police service.
Creative collaborators
More voices. Broader perspectives.
Sarah Kades
Also known as Sarah Graham, Sarah writes eco-thrillers and narrative nonfiction. Her background in archaeology and Indigenous knowledge studies informs her storytelling. She coauthored Skeletons in My Closet with Dave.
Susan Forest
An Aurora Award-winning novelist and editor, Susan is the author of Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold. She partnered with Dave on Undaunted, exploring courage through real lives and difficult moments.
Mark Leslie
A horror, paranormal and nonfiction author with extensive publishing experience, Mark brings a different lens to Dave’s collaboration, Whispers.
Meet Koda
A good companion.
An unexpected teacher.
Adopted in June 2023, rescue dog Koda is part of Dave’s world in the field and beyond. He has appeared on Crime Beat and can join select events by request.
Ask about an appearance →