So what makes you an investigator?
Remember, the investigator works at the gathering and
analysis of information. The information
is in records, statements, and evidence.
Sometimes the evidence can be gathered without surveillance. Sometimes the records are the evidence. Sometimes the statements are the
evidence. Sometimes a person won’t
freely give you the statement directly, so surveillance or even an undercover
operation is needed to collect what you need.
Investigators are professional researchers and analysts that
sometimes have to employ all of the following: observation, enquiry,
examination, experimentation, and analysis.
It is not always easy to obtain the evidence and information you need to
“solve” your case. The problem for the
private investigator, is that (s)he does not have the privileges often afforded
to law enforcement, and does not have the authority and resources of the state
or federal government behind them. The
private investigator must adhere to ethical behavior and work within the
law. The private investigator does not
have any privileges or authority any private citizen does not possess. The investigator must depend upon his or her
own savvy, training, experience, connections, and good old fashioned hard work.
Sometimes asking a question once is not enough. Try to not be too annoying (unless that is
the desired effect) when repeating questions.
Rephrase the questions. Ask the
questions from different perspectives.
Also, never under estimate the “oh I almost forgot to ask…”or the “one
more thing” before concluding the interview.
When people think the interview is over, they tend to let their guard
down. The Columbo TV trick can work well
when done correctly. I am not a believer
in TV techniques, but they usually got put into a script for a reason.
I am sometimes simple minded. I like to have the “Who, What, When, Where,
Why and How” written at the top of the page of my notebook when I
interview. I tick mark the item covered,
so I know what else I need to ask.
Sometimes I will just ask that simple question: How? Or Why?
Do not be too quick to commit yourself to deciding the guilt
or innocence of anyone whom you may question. Of course, from the old school of
investigating “If their lips are moving, they are lying” is almost better to
adhere to than believing whatever someone may say. Remember to balance what they say against the
records and the evidence available.
Remember that in the field, your primary purpose is to
gather facts. Normally, analysis, evaluation, and judgment are to come later. However,
this does not mean you should be naïve about what is going on. Decide for yourself if “playing dumb” is the
best course of action. I usually tell
the person I am interviewing, that I have just been hired and I do not know the
details of the case. This is usually not
true, but it gives me the excuse to ask very specific questions or repeat
questions to clarify information.
I have rarely felt like I had gathered all the information
needed to decide the truth, unless I obtained a video showing the incident in
question. I do not know if there is any
way to determine that you have gathered all the information possible. I usually tell the client that there is more
than can be gathered, but the cost effectiveness begins to drop dramatically,
and I leave it up to them to decide if they want me to spend the time and money
to continue the investigation. This of
course depends on the seriousness and the type of case being investigated. You should always be asking yourself if there
is anything that you have overlooked that could make a difference in the
outcome of the investigation.
Stay with these principles, and you can work your way into becoming an accomplished investigator. Whatever you do, stay safe!
