Derek Cress is a Child Abuse Investigations Specialist with Zero Abuse Project.  He recently retired from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) after 24 years of decorated service to the community by achieving the investigative designation of Master Detective.  For the past 17 years, he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Branch where he held investigative and training roles within the Child Abuse Unit, Sex Offense Unit, and most recently, the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.  He was fortunate to be selected and cross designated as a Task Force Officer with the FBI, where he participated in multiple successful federal child exploitation investigations, prosecutions, and convictions while partnering with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.  He strongly believes in continuing education and training for ICAC investigators is the key to combating online child sexual abuse, which dynamically changes on a regular basis.

Derek holds an associate degree in Criminology from Indiana State University, a bachelor’s degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, and is a graduate of the IMPD Leadership Academy.