Private Investigations Training

[MountainServer]

I am a private process server who is interested in
learning more about private investigations. There
are no licensing requirements here in Colorado, and
while there is a series of training classes here, I
live too far away to attend, so I am looking at
online options.

Can anyone recommend an online program that
actually has some merit and accreditation? I am
interested mostly supplementing my process serving
business with attorney services I can do from home,
skip tracing, asset searches, background checks
and the like.

Any information you might have for me would be
much appreciated.

[MountainServer]

BestPI -

What an amazingly thorough and well thought out post. I really appreciate your reply to my original query.

Thank you!

[JPaige]

Also learn as much as you can regarding surveillance (foot, mobile, and static), Know about cover stories. Know how to think on your feet and be able to lie when on a case. Know how to plan a sureveillance (Vehicles, locations, cover stories, camera usage)

Good luck and stay safe.

[Michael Newman]

Originally Posted by MountainServer

I am a private process server who is interested in
learning more about private investigations.

It's been a while since you posted this. Are you "in the business" or are you still looking?

Originally Posted by MountainServer

I There
are no licensing requirements here in Colorado,

That may be so, but I have found you need "something" in the way of professional licensing that will hold you accountable through a 3rd party reporting system which monitors your conduct . I have many colleagues in Colorado who have a PI Agency Corporation License, issued by the Secretary of State, which helps in that regard - because the state, and some cities, oversee PI's - although in a round about way.

And many of my Colorado colleagues have been able to obtain other state PI Licensing because they use their Colorado headquarter corporation licensing as a base.

Originally Posted by MountainServer

there is a series of training classes here, I
live too far away to attend, so I am looking at
online options.

That's easy these days.

I am surprised that the training camps you have found do not have an online version or at least book, CD, and DVD materials to use. Just about every leading course now provides that, including many univerisities.

Originally Posted by MountainServer

Can anyone recommend an online program that
actually has some merit and accreditation?

I am not sure if anyone has provided you with referrals, but I certainly can.

Originally Posted by MountainServer

I am
interested mostly supplementing my process serving
business with attorney services I can do from home,
skip tracing, asset searches, background checks
and the like.

Are you looking to stay at home on the internet and work? That can be achieved.

Or, are you willing to make trips?

(Almost sounds like you live in Silverton, Colorado and commute by the local train!)

Michael

[Michael Newman]

Thanks for the comments. I hope we are not in the off-topic area of this thread.

Originally Posted by BestPI

Even today there is no economic necessity for private investigators to exist. Especially today. Much of what private investigators did in the past is not being done now. Much of what would be a private investigator's "market" is being serviced (now) by on-line search engines (that do a better job) and in-house employees (claims agents) or paralegals.

I agree in part. On the other hand, technology and new corporate cultures have opened up the need for more private investigators today than what we had before 1980.

I am not sure if the following link is available to you (you can always get a free guest passcode), but it does show there are now several new areas which have exploded on the scenes:

NEW POLL: Which 52 areas of Private Investigations are you interested in?

Originally Posted by BestPI

The states (therefore) wanting to keep the licensing fees to not come right out and end licensing for private investigators (well, they still have licences for horse shoers).

Good point.

California dismantled their entire Licensing Division for Collection Agents. It is virtually a free for all in the state. Last time I counted, there were 10,000 licensed private investigators in California, many of them who are retired but still pay the state for that fancy new ID card.

Colorado had full licensing prior to the early 1970's, and then dismantled their state licensing bureau because of an alleged lawsuit against the division. The Colorado State PI Association's board has been trying to get state licensing back. But the governor, after a recent 2-year study, said "no" - primarily because the monitoring of PI's in the state by a new profit making agency would now be . . . redundant. Most PI's do not want licensing as long as there is accountibility. Some PI's want licensing to keep the newcomers out. One of the international associations I am a member with has in their Mission Statement a concept which sustains both camps, but leans toward less self-serving bureaucratic missions.

Today, licensing is all about the money. Look at the outrageous proposed fees for Missouri (which has been without licensing).

Originally Posted by BestPI

But there is very little MONEY to sustain the PI profession (more money in horse shoes)

Companies have gone broke serving PI's exclusively (CDB Infotec, RCBS, others) Others have gone into other markets. There is no money for PI work -- plain and simple.

I think we differ in that. Certainly there are those who have lost business or cannot find the business, but one of the groups I circulate with have no problem in increasing their business. It's akin to focusing toward a new beachhead instead of the storm - all the while keeping in tune with current events in emerging markets.

There are PI firms who have federal contracts to support Homeland Security by placing PI's on the streets conducting the base data for national security background investigations. They start their intern trainees at $40,000 a year. And business is backed up.

Originally Posted by BestPI

Companies have gone broke serving PI's exclusively (CDB Infotec, RCBS, others)

And new ones have emerged.

Originally Posted by BestPI

There is no money for PI work -- plain and simple.

I think you need to get around a new crowd.

I don't know your business, but from what I have read - you concentrate on $35-$45 serves? And you also have your state PI License?

Do you know of John Grogan? The reason I ask is, John proved how to use his state PI license to get the phones to ring off the hook - and developed a split system between regulated cases and unregulated cases, and made a small fortune.

I'm just suggesting for you to use your PI License to handle the cases, and reap the profits.

Originally Posted by BestPI

CALI (California Association of Licensed Investigators) has a committee to hunt down and enforce unlicensed activity. Also CALI is trying to be the provider of state mandated CEU's but nobody can figure out what CEU's they would require. Nobody (especially CALI) knows what a PI does.

I joined them again -- but CALI is a farce. It is struggling to exist too. Very poorly oriented and hasn't a clue what a PI does for a living. (Nor do most PI's since that is not how they make a living)

I agree.

Our California branch was a member of CALI. Then cancelled after years of getting around the worse negative and small minded ex-cops/turn PI's ever. You're right about their Hunt Squad.

Personal Opinion Only: What an ugly life it is for a CALI member, with a state PI License, to sit in his smoke filled bungalow in West Los Angeles, and go through the yellow pages every day looking for ads that do not have a printed PI License in it - just to get his jolly to "turn 'em in). Sorry. I pass on CALI and their members. There are BETTER groups around who are making the money and are too busy to bother with nonsense.

Originally Posted by BestPI

There is no case for unlicensed PI activity. The same is probably true of paralegals and legal secretaries and bookkeepers and computer programmers. Any of those could show up in court, swear in, present testimony about various things and not have violated any laws.

Perhaps. But the attorney using the unlicensed and unregulated PI who conducted what may be deemed as a regulated activity - may lose the case if opposing counsel were to challenge the witness' claim that he/she did not need a state PI license to perform what the licensing board deems a regulated act - such as commercial and professional overnight surveillance and video to be used in court.

On the other hand, one of the associations I belong to agrees with the quote "No one, anywhere, needs a license to investigate anyone. The requirement of a license is primarily based on the person who advertises they are a private investigator in business for themselves."

So it's an advertising license!

Originally Posted by BestPI

If you examine the PI law (even cursorily) you will find there is none. It's unenforceable vapor.

Tell that to Mr. Robinson, a past colleague from the East Coast. You know. One of those big states who cite lawful and unregulated private investigators with a stiff fine for working a case without a license. Mr R had to hire himself a smart attorney who can read the statutes and represent him at the mock trial before "The Board". They dismissed it, of course, but Mr R had to pay nearly $2000 in legal fees to prove he had the right to work the case without a state PI license.

Now days, Mr R is a big promoter of going the extra mile to stay clear of meritless citations by presenting himself a little different. Still, he remains lawfully unlicensed and does very well - within the law - and not in their face.

Originally Posted by BestPI

What you have to be careful about are the "representations" you make about yourself.

Excellent point.

These days any professional needs a carefully worded web page and several carefully worded business cards which represent both regulated cases and unregulated cases and a combination of the two.

Michael

[Michael Newman]

Originally Posted by BestPI

REDACTED

Originally Posted by BestPI

I will most likely remove most of what I posted here withing 48 hours. Given that the PI group is more astute than the process server, ther eis a lot of material that is best removed afetr reading it. So In two days I will remove it.

On a case right now . . .

[BestPI]

PLease do not leave the quoted material on the forum for mor than a few days. I expressed that intention earlier. It was intended for you and members to read, but now you have read it (obviously) and can respond to it, but then remove it.

[BestPI]

Please be a good gentleman and remove the quotation from my previous posts. They have been up for several working days and two weekend days and sufficient time to make points about them. I had expressed intention to delete them last week before you copied them into quotations.

Originally Posted by BestPI I will most likely remove most of what I posted here withing 48 hours. Given that the PI group is more astute than the process server, ther eis a lot of material that is best removed afetr reading it. So In two days I will remove it.

So please delete the quoted material like a good gentleman, a former federal officer, and a man of honor. You understand the ethic I'm sure. You are obviously a man with an education and a gentlemen. Please delete materials which you quoted from me. Thanking you in advance.

[rominger]

We took it down for you... that said, don't erase everything you write! We get new users all the time, and your insights would be valuable for future users as well!

[Michael Newman]

Originally Posted by BestPI

Please be a good gentleman and remove the quotation from my previous posts. They have been up for several working days and two weekend days and sufficient time to make points about them. I had expressed intention to delete them last week before you copied them into quotations.

So please delete the quoted material like a good gentleman, a former federal officer, and a man of honor. You understand the ethic I'm sure. You are obviously a man with an education and a gentlemen. Please delete materials which you quoted from me. Thanking you in advance.

Sorry Paul,

I was on a major case for the last several months.

But I have to agree with the Forum Administrator who asked you to stop deleting your posted comments, espcailly for the reason he cited.

As a former federal agent, I was disciplined never to delete my evidence or my record of source. Even if I were to comply with your request, then the effect of my posts would be that I was making a factual statement based on no perceived issue, or otherwise submitting a rebuttal to a ghost.

Imagine what new forum members would say when they read the threads you posted in and saw nothing but deletion notices and a one-sided view. They'd ask, "So what are the issues here?"

After looking at all of the replies you have received from other members here, it now looks like a one-sided conversation going on because the other members failed to use the Quote button to capture what they were answering too.

On the other hand, if a member makes a mistake in their advice here, I believe they should own up to it with corrections in a new post, but to certainly not delete the original.

What I have learned in the last ten years on internet forums is that I must take my time in posting comments to make sure my facts are correct, my spelling is okay, and grammar check. So whatever you post here should remain here. And remember, even some of your deleted posts are still seen in the Google Cache copies because no one knows the days that the Google Spiders visit this forum.

You may also wish to register for a new User Name Alias where you can post to your delight and no one would hold your real name postings to accountability.

Michael