The ability to conduct surveillance/stake outs is by far one of the most important and lucrative skills a private investigator and process server can possess. Surveillance/Stake outs can also be one of the most difficult, tedious, challenging, yet rewarding tasks performed. It is a skill-set that requires concentrated practice built upon a solid foundation of time-tested fundamentals. This course is written to give you the information needed to successfully obtain and report video-based evidence that can withstand the scrutiny of litigation and give your clients the edge they need.

This course, written by L. Scott Harrell, teaches course participants the most important aspects of surveillance: how to prepare for a surveillance assignment before leaving the office, detailed diagrams describing the surveillance set-ups and investigator positioning used by veteran investigators, using today’s technology in throughout every aspect of surveillance operations, preparing professional surveillance reports and understanding the many legal aspects affecting video evidence obtained through covert surveillance.

This course is approved for 10 hours of continuing education for process servers in Arizona. An exam will be administered upon the conclusion of the program. If the candidate passes with a score of 75% or better, a certificate of completion will be issued in accordance with state licensing authority standards.

Arizona Private Process Server Continuing Education Policies

Pursuant to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration §7-204: Private Process Server,(hereafter referred to as “Code Section”) all certified private process servers must complete continuing education every twelve months.

For more info see: http://azcourts.gov/cld/PrivateProcessServer.aspx

About PIeducation.com

PIeducation.com has provided continuing education to private investigators, process servers and bail enforcement agents via the Internet and distance learning opportunities since July 1, 2002 and is the undisputed market leader in this industry segment. As of January 2012, the company has conferred over 61,000 CE hours to over 5,800 licensees in among the following states Arizona (CE for Private Process Servers), Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Oregon, North Carolina,  South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The on-line format makes continuing education (CE) affordable, flexible and practical. Students no longer need to bear the high expense of travel and time away from work. Completing courses is easy and done at the student’s own pace. All courses can be downloaded for off-line reading rather than staying connected to the Internet the entire time. Students can log out and back into their courses whenever they want and pick up where they last left off at any time. If students choose to download the course material then they can finish studying at their leisure before logging back in to take an online, open book, final exam that is submitted via a simple browser-based form.

PIeducation.com is a division of CompassPoint Investigations, private investigators in Pensacola, FL.

New for 2012, we are beginning the “Pursuit Magazine Professional Spotlight” in which we will feature one (1) of our subscribers on the home page of PursuitMag.com for an entire month in a self-styled promotional article. Think of it as a mini-autobiography of you and your business reaching all of our subscribers (several thousand people and growing every day), social network followers and website visitors in a VERY big way.

This opportunity could be a MASSIVE marketing turbo-boost for you (and it’s FREE)!

Here’s the write up on Brian Taylor, in first Professional Spotlight feature!

But there is a catch… there always is, right???

1. You must be a private investigator, bail agent, process server, forensics guru, collateral repossession professional, security consultant, skip tracer or in a related profession.

2. You’ve got to write a really good article about yourself! Be original, interesting, humorous (if it works for you), but most importantly… be compelling! Make us WANT to put you in the spotlight. You don’t have to be the next Hemingway or even really write that “good” (we’ve got editors for that).

Don’t worry, I’ve got some suggestions (and just a few guidelines) that can be found right here:

http://pursuitmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Professional-Spotlight.pdf

The directions are simple:

1. Check out the resource link above.

2. Write your featured article.

3. Send it to me! (My email address is in the document.)

We’ll review all of your submissions and post the next spotlight the following month. Will you be in the spotlight?

.

All selected partners will receive 30% of every completed sale referred through the partner’s text link or banner ad ($37.49 for every PI course and $38.99 for every bail enforcement course); every sale will be tracked through a unique affiliate ID.  All affiliate partners will receive a generous commission, as well as the tools, marketing tips and advertising collateral required to effectively support all marketing efforts.  Additionally, partners will have access to a world-class affiliate resource center offering the ability to track online earnings, marketing statistics and commission payments in real-time.

Click Here to Learn More About the CompassPoint Investigations Affiliate Sales Program

“Affiliate Marketing” is a limited business partnership in which a select group of people market and advertise another company’s products via a special link, code or web page.  This win-win partnership enables the affiliate marketers to earn income by receiving a specified percentage of every completed sale that is referred from their specific site while, at the same time, the company is able to grow a sizable sales force of independent contractors who are paid a commission.

Affiliate marketers usually promote these products via company-provided advertising banners and text links placed in their own websites, email signature blocks, social networks, bulletin boards, customer email lists, published articles, videos and pay-per-click advertising campaigns (just to name a few possibilities).

CompassPoint Investigations is not only a substantially successful private investigation and process serving agency operating in Northwest Florida and Coastal Alabama but also operates several very popular investigation websites and online resources.  The most notable of which include:

• PIeducation.com (the undisputed market leader in state-approved continuing education for private investigators);
• BeABountyHunter.com (the most referenced bail enforcement training course available);
• BeAPrivateEye.com (the most complete guide on how to become a private investigator); and, of course,
• PursuitMagazine.com (a free online magazine for professional investigators, process servers, bail enforcement agents, skip tracers, collateral repossession agents, security professionals and other related professions).

The owner, L. Scott Harrell, is a proven professional investigator, educator, and mentor who is capable of highly successful project launches; he is now seeking qualified affiliate marketing partners to help roll out this current marketing initiative as well as help launch four new investigation-related products and services that will be available to affiliate partners very soon.

There are 17 affiliate partnerships available right now.  All affiliates must have a website or an online newsletter where a link or simple banner ad can be placed. To be considered for eligibility, potential partners must first complete this DEAD SIMPLE application form.  Affiliates will be selected based upon a number of factors such as reputation, professional experience, reach, affinity, available resources, marketing experience, etc. For more information, follow the link to the Affiliate Sales Page and the Frequently Asked Questions page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Scott Harrell, CompassPoint Investigations
ScottH @ compasspointpi (dot) com
www.CompassPointPI.com

Pursuit Magazine Overhauls Information Network With Launch of PursuitWire.com.

January 5, 2012, Pensacola, FL  -   Pursuit Magazine launched the innovative newswire site, http://pursuitwire.com, on January 1, 2012 in an effort to educate and improve the success rates of members of the private investigation, security and bail enforcement industries.  PursuitWire delivers important and breaking new stories that are directly related to private investigators, security, fraud, technology, forensics, hacking, crime, fugitives, bail, repossession and pertinent industry-related business issues.   PursuitWire disseminates timely news articles that have been collected from newswires and international media outlets via its website http://pursuitwire.com and through the associated Twitter account located at https://twitter.com/pursuitmag.  There are also several different RSS feeds available for PursuitWire, enabling subscribers to specifically tailor the type of information they wish to receive.  Additionally, subscribers can monitor the PursuitWire feed through a self-updating ticker on the Pursuit Magazine homepage at http://pursuitmag.com.

L. Scott Harrell, the owner of CompassPoint Investigations, Pursuit Magazine’s parent company, said, “Although Pursuit Magazine and PursuitWire are affiliated, they are very different products.  Pursuit Magazine contains original, timeless articles that are written by bona fide industry leaders with the primary purpose of sharing specific information.  Pursuitewire.com was created to fulfill the demand for up-to-date industry-specific news, and current affairs.  Timely news stories are quite compelling and often very educational at the same time.  It is a combination of the kind of information available through Pursuit Magazine and PursuitWire that helps our readers become more effective and successful professionals; Pursuitwire.com embodies the forward-thinking vision and the commitment that Pursuit Magazine has to the growing needs of its subscribers. While I am aware that several other very capable newswires already exist, we hope to differentiate PursuitWire from them by featuring content that is consistently more relevant to our established base of Pursuit Magazine subscribers. Lastly, we intend to bring innovation to the PursuitWire website through the varied use of emerging forms of media for a richer overall user experience.”

CompassPoint Investigations is a private investigation agency primarily providing insurance fraud investigation and service of process services, headquartered in Pensacola, Florida and serving the Gulf South area between Mobile, AL and Destin, FL.   In addition to the Pursuit Magazine network of websites, other subsidiaries of CompassPoint Investigations include PIeducation.com, the market leader in state-required continuing education for private investigators, as well as several other highly regarded online training websites.

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TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS

Thank you for being a part of Pursuit Magazine and for helping us to make 2011 the BEST year yet for our online publication; we sincerely hope that you not only enjoy reading our articles but that they have helped you personally or professionally in some way, too.

As we look forward to 2012, we have some really interesting plans that are coming together nicely as part of our efforts to not only to keep you informed, but to keep you engaged and networked into the professional investigations community as much, or as little, as you might want. We are developing new partnerships with other investigators and content providers who are producing informative and interesting sources of information! Look for a more diverse mix of media, especially video, from us in our posts in the coming year!

Please support our advertising partners, without them we could not continue to provide quality regular content to our readers for FREE!

Our top advertisers of 2011:

IRBsearch, LLC

“IRBsearch provides access to only the highest quality data and the most current information available – that’s why investigators have come to rely on us for fast and accurate information.  We know you have choices when it comes to selecting a data provider – and that’s why IRBsearch is not here just to meet your expectations, but to exceed them. Our leadership team has a combined 40 plus years of investigative experience in data acquisition and pairing advanced technologies with the best possible data sources.”

TracersInfo.com

“Tracers is one of the nation’s leading providers of identification and credential verification data. Tracers collects and maintains databases of public and non-public background information for law enforcement, government agencies, law firms, private investigators, insurance companies and other qualified businesses. Our products are designed to assist customers in managing risk through fraud detection and prevention, risk evaluation, identity verification, pre-screening and due diligence.”

IRBstore.com

“Our high-quality merchandise is carefully selected by private investigators and security professionals to bring you the best products. Whether you work in investigations, process service or bail and/or recovery operations, IRBstore.com is your one stop for affordable equipment, expert advice and superior customer service. IRBstore.com also provides security equipment for business owners, home owners, and personal safety use.”

Champlain College

“Champlain College’s digital forensic master’s programs meet a need for specialized education that builds your leadership skills, expands your networking base and accelerates your career. In a field with few graduate-level opportunities, our students are guided by well-connected faculty practitioners who work closely with the public and private sectors to ensure that Champlain’s programs meet the industry’s needs.”

Case Point, Inc

“Case Point Inc. is the best investigative Case Management Software for Private Detectives and Process Servers.  Our investigator business tools can manage and track cases, create invoices, organize media content; such as video surveillance, photos, and much more.”

Risk Management Research & Investments, Inc (RMRI, Inc)

“RMRI, Inc. is a full service Private Investigation Agency located in Columbia, MO. RMRI, Inc. is owned and operated by Ricky B. Gurley, who has been in the business of investigations and recovery operations for over eighteen (18) years.”

Thomson Reuters’ Clear

“CLEAR is an investigative platform designed for professionals who need information about individuals and companies. With fast access to a vast collection of public and proprietary records, CLEAR helps you find out about people and their connections.”

PI Agent

TO OUR ADVERTISERS:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Your support means everything to us and the profession! In return we will continue our commitment to you, to keep our current readers happy and bring in many new subscribers in 2012 by proving that we are the very best resource for information, industry news and offering the types of services they want!

From everyone here at CompassPoint Investigations to wish you and yours a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Getting through a job without a hiccup is probably not going to happen in all instances because ensuring that your subcontractors are doing their work as scheduled and making sure that they are conducting their parts of the investigation in a manner you expect them to while staying within your budget is similar to juggling a dozen revving chainsaws.

Aside from becoming comfortable through experience and practice, here are some additional tips to managing subcontractors without getting taken for a ride.

Document Everything:  First, you have to plan your investigation and identify all of the components with which you are going to need help.  Next you have to clearly identify the process of getting that part of the investigation accomplished and produce a detailed set of instructions for whoever will be handling the job defining the scope of the work to be performed.  Always agree up front what services you will and will not pay for and the terms and frequency under which the subcontractor will get paid and never sub an assignment out without an agreement in place.

I remember a time I was burned by an investigator for $125 worth of motor vehicle registration records when her job was simply to conduct surveillance on a specific residence and get me videotape documenting everyone who was coming and going during a very specific timeframe.  In her zeal to go above and beyond, she went above and beyond my budget and the scope of the assignment.  I paid her simply because I did not do a better job of defining the scope of the investigation and did not have an agreement in place outlining what I needed done and what I did not need.

I’ve included a great example of the agreement we use in the appendix of this course.

Document every communication you have with your subcontractors and vendors even if it is after the fact.  I prefer to manage and communicate via email as it leaves a paper trail but I also realize that there are times that we need to discuss issues.  In those instances, I follow up our conversation with a memorandum via email to the subcontractor summarizing key points of the discussion.

Coordination and Communication:  Part of documenting and putting into place a plan it is to make sure that every investigator clearly understands what they’re supposed to accomplish, how and when.  Then continue to correspond and coordinate with your subcontractors until the job gets done.  I cannot overstate the importance of communication and keeping a line open for the contractors to get a hold of you when necessary.

Be Flexible:  A common military expression is that the battle plan often changes as soon as you meet your adversary; the same can be said about any ongoing investigation. An investigation must remain fluid and you must keep changing your plan as new challenges and information from the field arises.  You might get information from a contractor with “boots on the ground” that gives you cause to pause.  Listen to the subcontractor and regulate your plan accordingly; they often see obstacles that you cannot since they are on the frontlines and you are busy working on something else.  It is not uncommon to find contractors who are unreasonable in their requests simply because they do not have local knowledge or present in that moment.

Be Professional and Personable: Of course, it’s always helpful to know the reputation of the investigators with whom you are working. Working with people who you’ve successfully worked with before or who have an excellent reputation is oftentimes worth the extra cost. The first time you work with a new investigator, work with him as closely as you possibly can.  If things work out well make sure to recommend him or her to others.

Most importantly, be fair and pay your subcontractors on time.  News will travel fast if you are less than professional in your business and this kind of negative word of mouth advertising is impossible to overcome.  While it is certainly OK to make money on the labor of your subcontractors be reasonable.  Subcontract investigators should offer a “subcontract” rate to other investigators but no one expects to work for slave wages either.  If I am billing $75 an hour it is perfectly reasonable to pay a subcontractor $55 to $60 an hour, but trying to make 75% to 100% markup on services is villainous and almost reeks of indentured servitude.  What if the shoe is on the other foot?  I won’t do business with people like that.  Conversely, I won’t typically do business with a private investigator who is billing $45 an hour either.

Perhaps you will become a subcontractor for another investigator who has a specific need for your services.  Remember that it goes both ways and being the type of subcontractor others will want to work with is great for business.  Respect their work, communicate clearly and often, and pay on time.  Treat others as want to be treated. And pay up. That makes a difference.

Keep wool blankets handy and a couple of thermoses with something hot to drink close by.  Again, you will need a couple of empty containers; coffee and tea are diuretics.

Do not use open-fire type heaters, like kerosene burners, a car will catch fire very quickly and the combustion may create carbon monoxide, which will kill you and you won’t even feel it coming. Space heaters use a tremendous amount of power; if you are going to use them keep them attached to a different power supply than your vehicle’s ignition system.  A heated blanket is also a luxury item.  Also consider the chemical hot packs that they often sell with hunting supplies to keep your hands warm.

Windows may tend to fog up while you are inside of the vehicle on a cold day, apply anti-fog solutions to the inside of your windows to help keep this surveillance footage crippling problem to a minimum.  You can also run an electrical fan, directing the air to blow on the areas you need to clear.  Be aware that your surveillance camera lenses and viewfinders may fog up as well; do not use chemicals on your equipment, instead opt for the fan or car heater.

A car engine running on cold days is often more visible than it is audible, therefore more discernable at greater distances, because the engine exhaust is released and turns to steam.

Be aware that you will leave tracks in the snow if you get outside of your vehicle.

This article is purposefully short because we want to hear your BEST WINTER SURVEILLANCE TIPS! Tell us what works for you, the challenges you face and any warnings you might have for other investigators by leaving a comment below!

Whether you were naughty or nice this year, we hope that you get everything you want.

Thank you for allowing us into your lives… now THAT is a very special gift!