When you are a private investigator, you are often called upon to "size up" a potential witness and this process must be done within a couple of seconds. The private investigator looking for a good witness' statement must almost immediately determine the best way of connecting with the witness.
A good way to do this is via eye contact. Once eye contact has been made, the pi can tell if a good connection has been made. If so, the interview will progress along smoothly. If not, an excellent way to foster a positive response is by focusing on the physical environment.
Usually, the prospective witness will be approached within their comfort zone. It is the job of a good pi to transform the comfort zone into one in which both interviewer and interviewee will be at ease.
The key to any interview is in getting to the level of the person you want to speak with and then making them feel comfortable with you. And, once again, we are back to what makes a good "recipe." It should be a sprinkling of questions mixed with a dash of humor and a tablespoon of continued eye contact.
After all, in this country no one should be forced to say anything against his or her will so the goal of a pi is to foster a positive relationship between themselves and the witness. In this way, the interview will go smoothly and a beneficial statement will be obtained.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Role of a Good Private Investigator (part 2)
There was another case where the victim was shot. The defense lawyer and I talked about the matter and I suggested that I go speak with him. (I would rather go out, give it my best shot, and fail than have to admit I didn't try.) Words like "can't" and "impossible" are not in my dictionary. I am tenacious and will stop only when the last stone is turned.
To this end, I put on my best suit and traveled to the twelfth floor office of the shooting victim. His receptionist greeted me and I told her who I was and whom I wanted to see. She asked if I had an appointment and I had to admit that I did not but I requested a brief meeting, anyway. I worked my way through several secretaries until I finally was able to meet with the victim's personal secretary. As I was escorted into the inner office, I put out my hand and gave the man a big smile and a vigorous handshake.
At first, the man took me to be a representative of the district attorney's office. When he found out I represented the shooter, he came up out of his chair rather quickly. Prior to becoming a P.I., I spent fourteen years as the Director of Security for a Fortune 50 Company. It has been my experience that when people come unglued, they launch themselves out of their chairs. I have always thought we should make this an Olympic event. In this matter, the gentleman earned a score of at least 8 out of 10.
Now, he was standing upright in front of me (of course, being taller.......almost everyone is) and I found myself facing his pointed index finger. He began to castigate me and I responded by listening, calmly and quietly. When there was a break in his diatribe, I chimed in and told him how good it was to have his side of the story as well as that of the defendant. He wasn't in the mood to give me much time but from our conversation I did glean information as to his state of mind and was able to form and communicate some of my own ideas concerning what would be a good result for all concerned. The bottom line is that the prosecution and defense were able to work out a compromise and my client received probation and rehabilitation instead of jail time.
A private investigator has to be readily adaptable to any and all changing circumstances. It is one the most important tools to have in your toolbox.
To this end, I put on my best suit and traveled to the twelfth floor office of the shooting victim. His receptionist greeted me and I told her who I was and whom I wanted to see. She asked if I had an appointment and I had to admit that I did not but I requested a brief meeting, anyway. I worked my way through several secretaries until I finally was able to meet with the victim's personal secretary. As I was escorted into the inner office, I put out my hand and gave the man a big smile and a vigorous handshake.
At first, the man took me to be a representative of the district attorney's office. When he found out I represented the shooter, he came up out of his chair rather quickly. Prior to becoming a P.I., I spent fourteen years as the Director of Security for a Fortune 50 Company. It has been my experience that when people come unglued, they launch themselves out of their chairs. I have always thought we should make this an Olympic event. In this matter, the gentleman earned a score of at least 8 out of 10.
Now, he was standing upright in front of me (of course, being taller.......almost everyone is) and I found myself facing his pointed index finger. He began to castigate me and I responded by listening, calmly and quietly. When there was a break in his diatribe, I chimed in and told him how good it was to have his side of the story as well as that of the defendant. He wasn't in the mood to give me much time but from our conversation I did glean information as to his state of mind and was able to form and communicate some of my own ideas concerning what would be a good result for all concerned. The bottom line is that the prosecution and defense were able to work out a compromise and my client received probation and rehabilitation instead of jail time.
A private investigator has to be readily adaptable to any and all changing circumstances. It is one the most important tools to have in your toolbox.
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Role of a Good Private Investigator
April 4, 2009
In my opinion, the role of a good private investigator is to give the plaintiff/defense additional information with which to support their issue. No matter if the private investigator is on staff at the attorneys' office or subcontracted, he/she has a pivotal role in the matter assigned.
It's easy to approach a friend of the plaintiff or defense and take a positive statement from them; the difficult part is to do the same from someone who doesn't want to get involved or is irritated/frustrated with the judicial system in general.
I make personal calls on those types of witnesses without notifying them first. I recall one occasion during a personal injury case where the father of the defendant greeted me. He was on the inside of a metal security door that I couldn't see into. My mission was to determine how often his son drove a certain vehicle and, if possible, the amount of insurance carried on that vehicle.
I told the father why I was there and he said he had nothing to say. In this case, a private investigator has between five and ten seconds to sell him or herself.
I immediately turned my attention to the vehicle, in question, which was parked in the driveway. I started to be inquisitive about it. He opened the door and came out as I began to walk toward the vehicle. The gentleman was now "outside" of his cloak of darkness and into the light where we could physically see each other. Naturally, he was taller. They always are.
I discussed my interest in vehicles but told him I honestly only know how to change oil in my old Volvo. (Her Majesty got the new Volvo, the house, and the......) At this point, he entered my comfort zone. During my verbal visual tour of his vehicle, I began to sprinkle in questions, the same as I might if I were cooking a gourmet meal. During the time that I was going to add "a dash of that," he told me that he didn't want to sign anything. "Hey," I said, "That's okay with me." So by then the discussion was becoming centered on things relating to cars and to the vehicle in his driveway, in particular. We talked about the horsepower of the engine and the type of shocks on it. "Are shocks and struts the same, " I wondered out loud. He was happy to set me straight on the matter. And then, finally we got around to talking about the type of insurance you should have on a vehicle such as this and how often his son was allowed to drive it. Mission Accomplished. Case Closed.
In my opinion, the role of a good private investigator is to give the plaintiff/defense additional information with which to support their issue. No matter if the private investigator is on staff at the attorneys' office or subcontracted, he/she has a pivotal role in the matter assigned.
It's easy to approach a friend of the plaintiff or defense and take a positive statement from them; the difficult part is to do the same from someone who doesn't want to get involved or is irritated/frustrated with the judicial system in general.
I make personal calls on those types of witnesses without notifying them first. I recall one occasion during a personal injury case where the father of the defendant greeted me. He was on the inside of a metal security door that I couldn't see into. My mission was to determine how often his son drove a certain vehicle and, if possible, the amount of insurance carried on that vehicle.
I told the father why I was there and he said he had nothing to say. In this case, a private investigator has between five and ten seconds to sell him or herself.
I immediately turned my attention to the vehicle, in question, which was parked in the driveway. I started to be inquisitive about it. He opened the door and came out as I began to walk toward the vehicle. The gentleman was now "outside" of his cloak of darkness and into the light where we could physically see each other. Naturally, he was taller. They always are.
I discussed my interest in vehicles but told him I honestly only know how to change oil in my old Volvo. (Her Majesty got the new Volvo, the house, and the......) At this point, he entered my comfort zone. During my verbal visual tour of his vehicle, I began to sprinkle in questions, the same as I might if I were cooking a gourmet meal. During the time that I was going to add "a dash of that," he told me that he didn't want to sign anything. "Hey," I said, "That's okay with me." So by then the discussion was becoming centered on things relating to cars and to the vehicle in his driveway, in particular. We talked about the horsepower of the engine and the type of shocks on it. "Are shocks and struts the same, " I wondered out loud. He was happy to set me straight on the matter. And then, finally we got around to talking about the type of insurance you should have on a vehicle such as this and how often his son was allowed to drive it. Mission Accomplished. Case Closed.
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