Hal Humphreys talks with Sam Petitto, a Colorado private investigator who trained dogs as a law enforcement officer. As a PI, he’s carved out a specialty in drug dog defense work.
When we talk about private investigations, we’re really talking about a HUGE profession with a ton of different specialties. So many, it’s hard to even talk about this industry as one single field.
We’ve got surveillance folks who work family cases — divorces and custody fights. SIU investigators looking for fraudulent insurance claims. People like Rachele’ Davis who do adoption searches and reunite birth families. Fraud investigators like Kelly Paxton, an expert in pink-collar crime. Forensic and crime scene reviewers like Dean and Karen Beers. Corporate due diligence folks like Tyler Maroney, who we interviewed last year. OSINT experts like Brian Willingham. And criminal defense investigators like me.
And also, like our guest, Sam Petitto, a Pursuit contributor and legal investigator in Durango, Colorado. He has carved out a sub-specialty that’s so unique, I don’t know anyone else who actually does it.
Sam trained dogs as a law enforcement officer. As a PI, he’s carved out a specialty in drug dog defense work. In the webinar, I ask Sam to share what he learned about drug dog training and evidence during his years in law enforcement, and he tells the story of how he built his book of work doing drug dog defense.
Sam also shares his advice to fellow investigators who are looking to carve out a specialized niche for themselves in the investigations industry.