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.

“We know that most people associate surveillance with this type of vehicle, and I was determined to find a way to develop a system that allowed our investigators to blend more seamlessly with their environment,” explained Zach Grove, company president.

After months of testing and re-tooling, Zach developed the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform.  The system consists of a pan/tilt/zoom camera that is covertly concealed on the interior of a car without any tinted windows or other stereotypical “surveillance” fittings.  The camera is covertly connected to an interior digital video recorder (DVR), which saves all recorded material for later retrieval and editing.  The vehicle is parked in a location within eye-shot of the surveillance location and left alone, seemingly empty.  The investigators then position themselves in a second vehicle nearby to conduct trailing surveillance if or when it is necessary and view all the activity on a laptop via a secure internet connection.

“The beauty of this system is that my investigators can see what is going on in real-time and can control the camera’s movements with the click of a mouse.  We have eliminated the need to place an investigator in a sometimes compromising position without sacrificing any visibility.  It is more covert and much more effective,” stated Grove.

The Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform is utilized in nearly all of Armada Global’s investigations and is only inhibited by lack of vehicle parking or low/no wireless signal since the system operates via wireless technologies.  It has now been used and proven successful in thousands of hours of real surveillance cases.

There are, of course, obvious benefits to using this system like more covert surveillance and increased officer safety since personnel don’t need to be physically present to view and record activity.

“Safety is sometimes a huge concern to us, especially when we’re operating in urban areas known to have a high crime rate.  I feel better knowing that I’m not putting my people out where it would not be safe for them,” said Grove.  “We drop the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform in place and then move to a location, possibly a public establishment on a busy street, where safety would not be as much of a concern.”

Another advantage to using the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform is the potential to decrease budgetary requirements.  On cases where trailing surveillance is not needed or required, the system can be placed in position and then monitored and controlled from the home office.  This allows for fewer personnel to be out on the streets and has the potential to cut payroll significantly.  Increased investigator comfort is also another significant benefit, especially when dealing with temperature extremes.

“Anyone who has ever sat in the back of a vehicle to conduct surveillance knows that there is nothing worse than a hot, summer day,” explained Grove.  “Opening the vehicle’s windows or, worse yet, turning the vehicle on to run the AC, largely decreases the covertness of the operation.  The Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform can run effectively in very hot and cold temperatures, which allows the investigator to sit comfortably in air conditioning throughout the day.”

Armada Global’s management team has come to realize during the two-years that they have been utilizing the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform that it would have a tremendous benefit to law enforcement, especially for narcotics investigations or pre-raid planning.  As such, they are now scheduling demonstrations and making the system available for purchase by law enforcement or licensed private investigators.  The Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform can be customized for specific needs or uses and comes with two pan/tilt/zoom cameras, DVR, battery power, connecting cables, a laptop, and all required software in a rugged Pelican Case for easy storage and deployment.  An Armada Global representative will also provide up to 20-hours of system set-up and training.

For additional information on Armada Global, Inc and their Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform or to schedule a demonstration, please call 1-412-253-2013 or email admin@armadaglobalinc.com.

Armada Global has also set up a closed group for PIs and LE on Facebook for those that want to view demo clips, evaluate the system, etc. You’ll need to send a join request after following this link http://www.facebook.com/groups/135852289865448/

They are only allowing licensed PIs and LE access, so if your FB account doesn’t note this association, please email us in advance with the name of your company or department - admin@armadaglobalinc.com

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.

# # #

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!

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!

The Supreme Court will consider Clair’s previous counsel’s failure to analyze and submit newly discovered evidence by C. J. FORD as a factor in their decision.

WASHINGTON D.C — The capital case Martell v. Clair was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Clair was convicted of a murder in 1987 and sentenced to death. The issue brought to the Supreme Court was whether a convicted inmate could fire his appointed counsel and retain new counsel. One of the issues Kenneth Clair’s attorneys brought to the court as justification for firing former counsel was counsel did not pursue newly discovered physical evidence in his federal Habeas Corpus appeal.

Evidence was bought to the attention of the court in the appeal by means of a letter by Clair, and an investigative report by C. J. Ford Jr., Clair’s criminal defense private investigator. The issue of whether Clair’s former counsel could be fired because Clair’s attorneys failed to introduce or examine this evidence, escalated the case and this issue to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the defense argued on Clair’s behalf.

In the respondent’s brief, in regards to Ford’s investigation, the defense said the following:

Clair independently enlisted private investigator C. J. Ford to look into his case. Clair instructed his counsel to cooperate, but the Federal Public Defender (FPD) provided no assistance and, indeed, restricted Ford’s efforts. Ford nonetheless was able to locate a potential alibi witness the FPD had never interviewed, and he obtained a declaration from Flore’s recanting key portions of her testimony.

On March 16, 2005, Clair wrote to the district court expressing concern that the FPD no longer had his best interest at hand. Meanwhile, Ford continued his investigation. His most significant discoveries concerned the physical evidence that had been collected from the scene of the Rodger’s murder. In the early 1990s, one of Clair’s original Habeas attorneys had asked to review the evidence, but the police department claimed it had been lost or destroyed. In the ensuing years of litigation, Clair’s counsel never probed or challenged that claim. When Ford took the matter up, he learned after persistent inquiry that the police did have the evidence after all. After reviewing that evidence in late May 2005, Ford informed Clair that substantial biological material and fingerprints appeared to be available but that further analysis would be required to determine whether the evidence was in suitable condition for testing or comparison purposes.

On June 16, 2005, Clair wrote to the court to renew his request for new counsel. Clair informed the court that despite Ford’s discovery, the FPD was making no effort to analyze the previously missing physical evidence or to present it to the court. Ford submitted his own letter to substantiate Clair’s assertion. That letter described Ford’s investigation, including his success in locating the physical evidence and the lack of assistance from the FPD. Ford stated that he had found blood, hair, and other physical evidence that needed to be analyzed to determine if it could be subject to DNA testing, and fingerprints that did not belong to Kenneth Clair, the victim, or the owners of the house and, thus, could have belonged to the real perpetrator. Ford said that although he had been trying without success to convince the district attorney’s office to analyze the evidence, Clair’s attorneys were neither assisting nor investigating themselves.

To find out more about this U.S. Supreme Court case, the investigation, and its arguments visit:

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/supreme_court

http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/10-126

About the Author:

C. J. Ford Jr. is the Owner and Qualified Manager of C. J. Ford Private Investigations. Mr. Ford has been in the investigative field for over 20. Mr. Ford specializes in criminal investigations.

C. J. Ford Private Investigations
211 S. State College Blvd. #343
Anaheim, CA 92806
PHONE. 714-776-6504
FAX. 714-776-8355
EMAIL: cjfordpi@mac.com

http://www.cjfordpi.com

Seattle, WA December 12, 2011 – Guns & Tactics Magazine has announced a strategic alliance with Rubio Films, an online content producer that specializes in HD video productions.

Rubio Films productions are designed to utilize the inherent power of social media to deliver a variety of content across multiple platforms. Their films target the eyes and ears of "quality viewers" and industry "influencers."

Guns & Tactics Magazine will launch their first video content production in January when they attend SHOT Show 2012, the world’s premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics and related products and services.

Guns & Tactics plans to produce daily episodes of SHOT Show interviews and event coverage, making the the videos available on their website and YouTube channel.

For more information regarding Guns & Tactics Magazine and their services, please visit their website at http://gunsandtactics.com.