Thank you, Brian, for your service to the professional investigations community and the United States!

Innovative Investigations, LLC consists of four partners who have varying specializations with law enforcement and military backgrounds.  We are licensed in the state of Kentucky with reciprocal licensing in Tennessee.  Darrin Larrabee and I established Innovative Investigations in 2010. We have three specialists; Tim Upchurch, Donnie Salmons, and I are all Collision Reconstructionists.  Donnie Salmons is also our go to investigator for digital media forensics (it ain’t just computers anymore).  Darin Larrabee is in charge of General Investigations and Process Service.  In addition, we offer background investigation services for employers and property managers.

I come from both a law enforcement and military background.  In 1987, after graduating high school, I became the third consecutive generation in my family to serve in the US Armed Forces by joining the US Air Force; I spent most of my time in the service deployed to Eastern Asia.  Once I was honorably discharged, I obtained employment working as an industrial electrician (the field I was trained for in the Air Force).  In 2001, I decided to pursue the law enforcement career I had desired since my childhood.  I went to work as a corrections officer in a local county jail and entered the US Army National Guard as a military MP as well.  When the opportunity presented itself,  I applied to work at a major police department and was hired!  Shortly after I started the police academy, however, I was deployed to Iraq in December of 2002.  I had very mixed feelings between obtaining the career of my dreams and my strong desire to continue and serve my country.  Thankfully, the choice was made for me by the US Government and I gladly deployed with my brothers in arms and a Military Police unit out of Louisville, Ky.  Our main mission was providing convoy security and POW transportation.  Our most remarkable mission was to provide perimeter security for the first constitutional talks among the new-elected Iraqi dignitaries.  In all honesty though, the real significance of the event for me was not the high-level talks and history being made but the fact we were fed real food for the first time after four months of MREs (dehydrated military sack lunches)!

Upon my return from Iraq, I anxiously rejoined the police academy and knew that this was the type of career for which I was born.  I spent the next 8 years working as a Patrol Officer and Collision Reconstructionist for some of that time.  Unfortunately, it all goes by too fast and I quickly found myself halfway to retirement!  The ill-timed realization that I would be retiring very soon was also about the time the economy was tanking and once stable pensions were disappearing.  As a result of this uncertainty my partner, Darin Larrabee, and I began to brainstorm our options in 2010.  Wanting to continue to be in a position of helping people find the truth when the truth was not always obvious, we decided to step out and take a huge risk (for us) and formed a business when all of the cool kids were busy pulling their money out of the economy.

Having my military service behind me and realizing that many have sacrificed for my freedom to take that risk, I couldn’t wait to prove the economy wrong.

In August of 2010, my first partner and I launched Innovative Investigations, LLC and we haven’t looked back since; we eventually brought two more partners into the business to provide a greater depth of experience and the ability to offer a wider variety of services.  We set out to provide information with integrity, results our clients could have confidence in, and to never compromise our principles!  We believe this sets us apart from some agencies that are, all too often, willing to change the results as the invoices get larger.  Along with our commitment to truth and these principles, I decided to become a member of the Kentucky Professional Investigators Association, an association that requires high-standards of its members to further the reputable industry we all seek to promote.

One of the most rewarding experiences in our business is to hear a client say, “I have tried everything and nothing is working for me, so I called you.”  The reward comes when we are able to supply what that client could not obtain anywhere else.

I quickly learned that the job was not all about rewards, however.  One of my first clients was an elderly couple who were coming to the realization that physical life was not eternal.  They had lost contact with their only child for about 6-8 years and they wanted to patch things up and be able to leave the child an inheritance.  The mother, being a good mother, was overly confident things would pan out regardless of my precautions to her that in fact, they may not.  After about 6 months we were finally able to locate a phone number.  I called the number and got a voicemail; there was no name mentioned in the voicemail greeting, so I recorded the message to play for the client and see if they recognized the voice.  The mother broke down stating “It’s HER! It’s HER!”  I advised her that I would await a call back and if there was no call back I would attempt other means of contact.  Finally, we were able to contact the adult child and she wished not to have any contact with the mother whatsoever.  It was then the most difficult phone call I’ve had to make in years.  In the end, although the mother was crushed, she was very pleased with the tenacity of our efforts to locate her daughter and the honesty of our results.

Looking forward now, our newest service offering is digital media imaging and data recovery.  Since Donnie Salmons has signed on we have the experience and software necessary to locate data that, quite simply, is a little creepy.  Mr. Salmons has been trained and certified from the top instructors in the field and has obtained the newest software available.  Our software is used within some of the highest levels of government to obtain hard drive data and we are very excited to offer this new service.

Becoming a member of this great profession, I have learned that there is a huge sense of camaraderie among most investigators, an asset I have enjoyed as a military member and a law enforcement officer. Through this camaraderie has come a vast amount of mentoring from several investigators across the country.  If you are seeking to become a private investigator, I would encourage you to first do your research and see if this is the career for you and realize that there is a lot of glamorization of this profession that is nothing but pure fantasy.  Make sure you are aware of the enormous benefits this career offers as well as the snares that exists that can put you and your family at risk.  The pitfalls are many, from legal risks to physical risks, but by doing your research and making a knowledgeable decision these risks can be greatly reduced.

Once you have decided this would be the career for you, the next step would be to inquire with experienced investigators to see about possible mentorships;  this can lead to possible employment opportunities if you prove to be a good asset.

As a business owner, one of my most important mentors has been Scott Harrell.  Now I know what most of you are saying, “OF COURSE! What a suck up!”  However, I have had the experience and training as an investigator already.  Where everything was absolutely foreign to us was the subject of marketing and growing our business.  Scott, being the innovator he is, has shown me opportunities where I never would have thought they existed.  He is a leading example of what a mentor should be.  He is always willing to help and ALWAYS thinking outside of the proverbial box.

With his help, we are on the road to great success.

From Scott: Congratulations, Bryan, for being selected for this month’s Pursuit Magazine Professional Spotlight! The entire staff came to an agreement on your selection. Thank you for your kind words. Scout has generously agreed to offer you a free 1 year subscription to its web-based Investigation Management Software, too!

Most importantly though, and I know my partners would agree, we would never be where we are today without our families; they have made great sacrifices to get us where we are today.  In my case, many times I find myself working up until 9 or 10 at night on marketing or completing assignments.  My hopes are to build a business that my children can continue if they choose this career path in life.  It is with a great deal of pride that I can report that my daughter has spent the day with me doing surveillance in Ohio on one case and, additionally, has shot video footage for me on another!   She has shown some interest and I love getting the opportunity to feed my children’s hopes and dreams every chance I get.  I have always been passionate about helping people and I hope that our business will be a conduit to help others in many more ways than just traditional investigations.  Most importantly, I hope that my business will serve as an example to my children that no matter what happens to trip up your path through life, you can succeed if you invest time and effort into any undertaking.

I will end this article with my favorite quote from Winston Churchill; it is a rule I live by and the best advice I could give…

”Never, never, never give up”

Would you like to reach Innovative Investigations, LLC?

Brian Taylor, Managing Partner
Innovative Investigations, LLC

info@innovative-pi.com
Phone: 859-948-2075

PO Box 2073
Richmond, KY 40476

Network with Innovative Investigations:

The Innovative PIs Blog
Innovative Investigations Facebook Page
Brian Taylor | LinkedIn
Follow Innovative Investigation on Twitter

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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.

Click Here to read more about this very special FREE opportunity.

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“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

Collision investigators reconstruct collisions for several reasons.  The most important , in my mind, and yet more subtle reasons for looking into significant collisions is to identify any environmental factors that may have been a primary contributor to the collision.  This may prevent additional collisions at a certain location from causing further injuries or fatalities.  They are often the most easily and quickly remedied.  Another benefit for examining these collisions is to identify any safety concerns in vehicles for equipment or structural failures. Although this prevents further unwarranted injuries or fatalities, these are less common and more difficult to see through to the end.  Lastly, there is the investigation to determine fault or liability.

Often in vehicle collisions, the events can be foreseen, although not always observed. They can certainly be explained and liability assigned.  This happens daily in every city.  In order to explain how events occur and why and then to assign liability reconstructionists must seek causation.   In doing so, contributing factors need to be considered in determining causation.  These factors may include driver behaviors, environmental factors, and vehicular factors.

Once a roadway hazard is perceived by a driver, the driver reacts to the hazard, and physics takes over.  There is one of two outcomes as a result.  There is a collision or a collision avoidance. In the case of a collision, there is a multitude of factors that affect the outcome of the impact.  The investigator must consider acceleration, braking, speed, friction, and direction, energy and momentum, all of which has to be carefully analyzed.  An affective reconstructionist has the unique ability and fortitude to compute many of these factors based on roadway evidence, scaled measurements, and sometimes recorded data.

Collision Reconstructionists are uniquely trained to take the investigation further into causation factors.  Our investigators consider many factors prior to and after the collision, as well as, being trained to meticulously explain the details of a collision itself, where more events occur in 1/10th of a second than most can imagine.

For example, in a scenario where two vehicles collide at an intersection, a reconstructionist is interested in the pre-collision events.  Where were the driver’s traveling from?  Where was their intended destination?  What was their frame of mind at time of departure?  What do the cell phone records reveal prior to the collision? In addition and all too often, were the driver’s intoxicated?

Once these questions can be answered, the next issue at hand is the scene of the collision.  Hopefully, this is where the responding police department has protected the scene for preservation of evidence and, subsequently, conducted a thorough investigation by obtaining all possible witness statements, marked any and all roadway evidence, and successfully measured the scene using a total station or other scene mapping equipment. These and others are all vital requirements for a successful private practice reconstructionist to review the case and identify any factors that may be important to a civil or criminal case.  One rule to keep in mind is there is very seldom evidence not tampered with from bystanders or other emergency personnel whose primary job is not to preserve evidence but save lives.

While reviewing the results of the investigation or revisiting a scene,  a reconstructionist must look for environmental factors such as was the sun at a position to blind a driver’s view, are there trees or other objects blocking a view of traffic, was the traffic regulating equipment working properly.  We can then begin to look at the roadway makeup and condition at the time of the collision.  Another factor to consider is contributing vehicle factors by the units involved. Are there any vehicle recalls and have the repairs been completed by an approved mechanic?  Have there been any recent collisions that may have caused prior damage to a vehicle that made this specific wreck worse than it should have been? Was the vehicles equipment operating properly at the time of the collision?

In addition to these telling details is the vehicle damage.  There is a very accurate story told by the damage that often cannot be altered.  The principle direction of force or PDOF will fold a vehicles exterior in the direction the collision occurred.  Reconstructionists can also tell which lights were on during a collision, even if they are off once the collision occurs (an affect called “hot shock”).  In the case of law enforcement investigations, often a driver who wishes to avoid the fact that he was driving can be identified by a foot print left on a brake or accelerator pedal.  A private reconstructionist must look at how law enforcement identified a person as the driver so appropriate liability can be assigned.

As you can see, a solid collision investigation can fill a large file of detailed reporting by someone who has received the proper training and has obtained the right experience for the needs of a client.  Our investigators have responded on scene to thousands of collisions, many fatal, and have had the unique opportunity to observe the evidence minutes after the collision has occurred.  This is unique our investigators who have law enforcement backgrounds, experienced in civil depositions and testimony, as well as, successful criminal cases.

A physicist or an engineer can calculate your data or explain the damage to vehicles based on principles and graphs, but our investigators have had the first hand experience that gives our clients the edge in a successful case. Our training has come from nationally prominent authorities in our field and our experience has come through being at the scene of every type of incident our clients may incur from single vehicle to a passenger car vs commercial vehicle.  If there is a need for commercial vehicle inspections, we are also able to provide them when needed for an investigation at varying levels.  In addition, we have the equipment, training, and ability to image event data recorders to obtain collision information such as seat-belt use, braking indicators, speed, airbag deployment, and much more.

Have you been in a collision where fault is in question?  Do you need highly qualified investigators that have the experience and equipment to look at your case objectively?  Our investigators are available for consultation or a full investigation of your collision.  For a free initial consultation, you can call 859-948-2075 or go to www.innovative-pi.com.  

Need to find out more about us?  Go to the contact page and click on each investigators’ name for a list of training and experience.  You can also email us at info@innovative-pi.com.  One of our Collision Investigators will contact you and guide you through how we can resolve your case.

Brian Taylor, Managing Partner
Innovative Investigations, LLC

The rose, a beautiful flower used to express love, is also the symbol of secrecy.  In fact, in ancient Rome roses were hung from the ceiling of the great council chamber to pledge the assembly to secrecy. We also see the rose in early Christian symbolism.  The image of a rose was often carved on confessionals, indicating that the act of confession between the priest and confessed would remain a secret.

Fast forward to today and the word Sub Rosa is used to describe surveillance or the secret act of watching a person or group.  The use of Sub Rosa is one of the most powerful tools a claims professional has to document evidence.  What is more damaging than someone caught on film cutting and stacking wood when hours earlier he was barely able to hobble into a doctor’s office?  Film that catches a subject in unguarded moments will document the claimant’s true physical limitations and the confirmation of a fraud.

It is the claims professional’s responsibility, after much evaluation, to initiate the Sub Rosa investigation. However, some adjusters are very hesitant to request a surveillance especially if they have not had success in the past with obtaining film.  But if you have strong evidence that fraud is likely, then you should commit the resources to establish a defense.  Be sure to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve as well as what is possible within the law.

Keep in mind a Sub Rosa investigation involves many moving parts and unless you work with someone who is well trained, knowledgeable, experienced and a trusted professional you could end up with unusable video and a blown opportunity.

I’ve outlined a few tips to help get your Sub Rosa investigation going in the right direction.  Preparation and knowledge is the key.  Of course, not every situation is covered here, but if you employ these five steps, you are more likely to have a successful outcome.

Document your suspicion of fraud

Once you have identified a possible fraud, document it in your file.  Recording your suspicions will help you to identify the fraud and work out a course of action.  Using surveillance arbitrarily is unlawful.  Only employ Sub Rosa when you have a reasonable suspicion of fraud.

Move on it quickly

A great way to botch an investigation is to wait too long to act.  Once a reasonable suspicion has been established, talk to your investigator as soon as possible and plan a course of action together.

When you hire any vendor on your file you are hiring their expertise.  You would not hesitate to question your attorney on a legal point or a doctor on a diagnosis, so don’t hesitate to ask the investigator what they think and make your decision based on their advice.

Provide up to date information

Our firm was asked to do surveillance on a man who was arriving at a downtown bus station.  We reviewed the physical description and injury information with the client; they even provided a picture. We established the surveillance but the man was not on the bus.  At least, the man in the picture did not arrive.

Actually, the man was on the bus but he didn’t fit the description and picture.  We found out later that the information was five years old.  The subject’s hair color was different and longer, he gained weight and had grown a beard. We did eventually re-establish the surveillance and obtained some good film, but valuable time and money were wasted.

Give your investigator accurate information.  Take the extra step to verify descriptions and ask your insured for up to date photos or films of the claimant.  The more information you provide, the better our chances to identify and film the right person.

Communicate with your investigator

Set aside time at the beginning of the assignment to talk with the investigator and go over the case information. Set up some ground rules about the amount of time authorized and how a request for additional time is handled.  Coming to an understanding now will eliminate problems down the road.

Keep in contact with the investigator and update them with any new information when you receive it.  Try to be available when they call or return calls quickly.

Authorize enough film to defend your case

Bottom line is that an investigator is aware of the amount of time you have authorized and they will try to allocate the time wisely, but there are periods when a subject will become active when the allocated time is almost out.

The investigator will usually call to request more time, but if you are not available they might continue or drop filming because there is no time left.  Don’t let an opportunity slip by and damage your investigation.  Allow some wiggle room for your investigator. Trust them to know what is needed to establish your case.

Let them know at the beginning of the investigation that they can go over the time requested (within reason and within certain situations)  but they must continue to try to contact you. Most of the time, investigators will continue to film because it is in the best interest of the case.

Don’t beat them up when they have gone over the time, especially if they have good film.

Authorizing or not authoring additional film can also be a trust issue, but if you don’t trust the investigator to give you an accurate assessment, then you have another problem which needs to be addressed directly.

Be aware that an investigator will request at least two more days of filming if he/she has clear evidence of fraud.  Allow the investigator to continue shooting for at least the next two days.

Bear in mind that one active day is not enough to prove fraud to a judge.  You must show that the activity was not an unusual “one time event.”  Another two days of activity will give you enough evidence to establish fraud.

Lastly, the length of the film should be enough to establish a true account of the claimant’s activities.  Filming twenty minutes of a three hour baseball game is not enough time to represent a true account.

If you have any questions about Sub Rosa, AOE/COE, Fraud or Investigation, email me. at david@2mypi.com   

David Dindak is the CEO of Coast to Coast Data Search, an investigation firm that has successfully serviced the insurance industry for the past 20 years.  He is a licensed PI and a continuing education trainer in Investigation and Fraud. The above article is from the 2008 Investigation & Fraud Training Series. 

This training series is a free and is provided to companies onsite.

For additional information on Coast to Coast Data Search and/or how to bring the 2008 Investigation and Fraud Training Classes to your company. Visit the website at: www.2mypi.com or call (800) 282-6278.

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!

Although the Christmas/Holiday season is a joyous time, people still have a hard time coping with the let down, the bills, the broken relationships and even the beginning of a New Year.  While some people look to the future on a positive note, others see only dread and feel overwhelmed with the sense of “here we go again”.

Many people know how burdensome life can be; many have struggled with depression and the feelings of despair.  While most people are able to seek the help they need, others feel the help just isn’t there, and nobody would understand them anyway.

Our agency has been conducting equivocal death investigations since 2002, and in this time frame we have seen more suicide deaths than any other deaths.  We have compiled the information contained in this article to assist in educating people on some of the aspects surrounding suicide deaths.

Suicide has no boundaries and it does not matter what age, race, ethnicity, sex gender, sexual orientation, career status, monetary status or where you live; it can strike at any given moment.  Those who believe suicide affects only certain types of people have been living with their heads buried in a fantasy of beliefs, not reality.

We have seen time and time again similarities between suicides even though the mechanism used may be different.  The list of questions goes beyond what is listed here, however a few of the repeated statements we have seen are as follows:

1.  They didn’t leave a note, so they couldn’t have committed suicide.  The consistency is that a suicide note is rarely left behind.  Sometimes even when a note is left behind, the questions are still unanswered.

2.  They never mentioned suicide, so they couldn’t have committed suicide.  Or they did mention suicide and we talked it through.  The consistency is some people will never mention it, while others will mention it here and there and still others talk about it what may seem like too much to be taken seriously.

3.  They were so happy; it was one of the best days so they couldn’t have committed suicide.  The consistency is that perhaps once the person has made this final decision, they no longer feel the depression, they feel relieved, and they are literally happy because they are not struggling with inner turmoil any longer.

4.  They couldn’t have committed suicide there was a new baby in the family. The consistency is that although a person may love that new family member, it brings on added stress from many aspects, maybe they were not ready for this new baby and everything might be too overwhelming for that person.

5.  They couldn’t have committed suicide they just got a new job.  The consistency is getting a new job in the scheme of overwhelming life issues is not that important.  Perhaps they felt pressured to take this job, when that job was not one they were truly interested in.

6.  They couldn’t have committed suicide they just started a new relationship with a great person.  The consistency is although they have begun a new relationship; they may still be feeling the effects of a past relationship and cannot cope no matter who walks into their life.

7.  They couldn’t have committed suicide they just bought a new car or new furniture, or some new gadget of some sort.  The consistency is, perhaps they bought the new item in hopes of cheering themselves up, when it just became another costly burden.

8.  They couldn’t have committed suicide they had no drugs or alcohol in their system.  The consistency is perhaps they wanted to make a decision being free from any effects of drugs or alcohol, but not everyone is under the influence when they have committed suicide.

9.  They couldn’t have committed suicide they just received a clean bill of health from their doctor.  The consistency is, although the doctor gave the person a stamped physical healthy card, the doctor cannot know if the person is suffering from any sort of mental disparity unless the patient tells them.  Being healthy does not stop someone from committing suicide.

10.  They couldn’t have committed suicide they had all kinds of money and had no reason to commit suicide.  The consistency is, it does not matter how much money a person does or does not have, and it is the struggles and stressors that come with having money or a lack thereof.  It seems to ring true that “money can’t buy happiness”.

Those are just a few of what we have seen in our equivocal death investigations, this list could go on and on.  Some of the resources listed below may have similar or different misconceptions, which only demonstrates just how broad the spectrum is and how there are no definite answers to this problem.

No matter what, it all boils down to an individual and every single one of us are different and every single one of us have our own unique brains and thought processes.  We cannot, no matter how hard we try or how much we desire get into another person’s brain to try and change their thoughts.

We can however, be there and let them vent to us, but we need to do this with patience and sincerity.  Contrary to what people might believe, a person can detect whether you are truly listening to them, or whether you are just sitting there pretending.  So make it a point to truly listen to people, you never know how important just “listening” might be to another human being.  If someone you know ever mentions anything surrounding suicidal thoughts, talk to them about it, offer them some resource options, and perhaps even offer to go with them to their physician.  Ignoring the situation will not make it go away, and these days there is no subject that is considered “taboo”.

If you or someone you know has been affected by someone committing suicide, whatever you do, do not play the blame game on the living, whether it be on yourself or someone else.  The devastation left behind after someone commits suicide is horrific enough without adding unnecessary fault finding.  Unfortunately the responsibility lies upon the shoulders of the person who chose to take their own life and what ifs and whys will not change that final act.  We have to find peace within ourselves, and that can sometimes take years as with any death.

Here are some suggested resources that may be helpful:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

http://www.afsp.org/

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/

http://www.save.org/

Our hope is to reach out and help curtail in some way this world-wide problem of suicide.  If you or someone you know could benefit from this information we ask that you please pass it on, you might just save a life.

About the Author

Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI 

Legal Investigator

Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators

Certified Death Investigators

Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC  (AFI)

www.Forensic-Investigators.com
beersks@Forensic-Investigators.com

(970) 480-7793 Office (Karen ext.2) and (970) 480-7794 Fax

As an investigator with a class action law firm based in New York City which specializes in representing investors and businesses in securities, antitrust, and consumer fraud litigation, the heightened legal pleading standards imposed by the federal courts have resulted in the daunting task of obtaining eyewitness accounts from individuals who may have previously been in a position of knowledge (or worse, participated in the core allegations).

Typically, these initial interviews are conducted via telephone without the subject’s prior consent and without any formal court order or subpoena requiring them to cooperate.  Successful interviews comes down to building a solid rapport with a potential witness and having them reveal specific facts about the allegations which may be further argued by Counsel down the road of the litigation.

Over my desk sits a message which I not only believe, but often end-up relaying onto a potential witness, “Everyday observations by ordinary people can correct injustices.”  Regardless of the subject matter, we all can learn something from this statement.  It provides us with the understanding that regardless of what we as investigators may find through “normal” channels, our success is often measured in what information we can develop on a particular individual or subject matter which until discovered, has been kept out the public’s eye.

Whether conducting a background check on a potential expert or providing due diligence research for a private equity client, witnesses can reveal facts which may have not been previously revealed and/or can direct you to other “stones” to consider checking under.

With that said, certain core questions remain, how do we find potential witnesses and more importantly, how do we get them to talk?  The first challenge can be accomplished by utilizing various sources (databases, social networks, public records, etc) to identify certain individuals who “may” be a person of interest for your particular objective.  Often this initial legwork can be productive and informative as you gather your facts.  Once you identify and locate potential “targets” the real challenge commences with not only connecting with these individuals (at an appropriate time), but to convince this individual to trust you enough to provide specific facts based on their own personal observations or experiences of a particular subject matter.

Experience has reflected that when attempting to conduct an interview over the phone, you generally have less than three minutes to properly identify yourself to the potential witness, explain who or what you represent, why you need their assistance, and most importantly why they should talk with you.  Building a solid rapport is paramount for obtaining enough trust that the person reveals information about potentially unethical or illegal conduct. The task is daunting and timing is everything in some circumstances.  For example, did you happen to connect with the witness just after he/she may have received a traffic ticket, had an argument with their spouse, or just got home from work after another stressful day?   Chances are slim that this individual will be willing to cooperate at this time.  Baring any timing issues or potential conflicts, some individuals may appear intrigued by the inquiry and may possibly commence an immediate discussion with you.  Always be wary of the “Can I call you right back” or “I just need to talk with someone before going any further” response as these are generally indicators that the person may be reconsidering their further involvement and cooperation.  A suitable counter to this response is to reinforce the importance of their cooperation and help clarify any immediate concerns that the person may have.  The most imperative thing to remember is keep the conversation going, since you may not get a second bite of the apple!

Experience has also demonstrated that certain potential witnesses may never fully cooperate freely without a court order.  We must not view these situations as a complete failure, since we likely just reached a key witness and may have caught a break in the case.  The best response to a declining witness is to inform them that although you understand and can appreciate their hesitance with cooperating, the facts known to them may eventually be compelled from them down the road in a more formal setting.   No matter what, remain professional, polite and in charge of the conversation.

It is important to keep in mind the human element while conducting witness interviews.  Despite the subject’s prior employment experiences, suspected observations, or demographics, these individuals carry with them the same concerns, burdens, and responsibilities as all of us.  A question to ask yourself is how would you respond if on the other end of that phone?  The psychological aspect of achieving trust is paramount towards obtaining relevant facts out of a witness.

We must remain aggressive, intrigued and forthcoming while conducting witness interviews, while at the same time, open-minded and sensitive to an individual’s concerns.  The more sensitive the subject matter is, the less likely we will find out what we are seeking in a database report.   Witness interviews remain a critical instrument to the modern-day investigator’s toolbox.  It is up to us on how we use it.

About the Author:

Kevin M. Cosgrove, CFE is a licensed Private Investigator in New York as well as Certified Fraud Examiner.  He specializes in investor fraud and corporate due diligence.  He can be reached at kmcinvestigations@gmail.com