Quaero Indicium
'To Find the Evidence'
Please distribute to others that may have an
interest
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Greetings!
At the recommendation of a few clients, we are making another format switch to a more user and reader friendly newsletter format. The content remains the same - relevant information for you and the investigative/legal professions. The newsletter will continue to be archived and distributing per you office protocol remains as simple as forwarding the email. New and easier subscription options are now available. As you no doubt are aware, our agency offers a wide range of litigation support to both attorneys and investigators, like you. From consultations of injury causation and death cases ... to scene investigations and evidence documentation ... to interviews and discovery/disclosure analysis ... we are with you, every step of the way.Visit our webiste at www.Forensic-Investigators.com to review the highlights of our services and resources. Call us today to review your case and investigative needs. |
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| Our Nation's Birthday |
Our Country is set to celebrate 234 years! Have fun with your friends and family - and be safe. This holiday is more than a birthday of a great Nation, it is a celebration of our founding Freedoms.
It will be forever amazing how this Nation was born and the vision our Founding Fathers had, the challenges they faced, and the sacrifices they made.
Government offices, and our own, will be closed on Monday, July 5th for the holiday.
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Important Dates
| The following are the important dates for this month and following two months. Reminders are sent approximately one week before an extended event (i.e. conferences and vacations). Any last minute changes are also sent by email. Please mark your calendars for any dates that may effect deadlines, hearing dates, trials and depositions. Any changes from a previous notice or newsletter will have an (*) to alert you to a calendar update.
July
- Closure: Mon - 05th (Independence Day)
August
There are no events at this time
September
- Closure: Thu & Fri - 16th & 17th (Speaker - Utah Private Investigators Association conference)
- Closure: Sat - 18th (tentative - Speaker - Maine Licensed Private Investigators conference)
- Closure: Wed to Sat 22nd to 25th (Attendance - PPIAC annual conference)
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Late Breaking News
| Dean and Karen Beers  | Almost as usual, this newsletter is a bit late in getting started - from the plan to change formats to just time and case management. Just in the last few days, some news has changed the content of the newsletter.
First, this week I received an urgent email from a friend and colleague informing me of the passing of another mutual friend and colleague. Ginger Mohs took her life on 06/28/2010. I worked with Ginger when she was a detective on the Fort Collins Police Department and I was an investigator at the Larimer County Medical Examiner's Office. She left the police department in early 2008 and was working as a private investigator. We also presented at the PPIAC conference last September, including working together for a Q & A on child death investigation. Ginger was a great person, but unfortunately that does not give immunity to suicidal ideation, attempts or suicide. During my time at the MEs office I participated in many discussions with families, friends and high school groups about the signs, or sometimes lack thereof, of at risk persons. Please, if there is any concern for yourself, friend, relative or colleague - do not hesitate to call the Suicide Resource Line, toll-free nationwide - 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433). Ginger will be missed and our thoughts and prayers are with her partner, family, friends and colleagues.
Next, I was contacted by the NALI National Director requesting that I come on board the new association quarterly magazine - The Legal Investigator (TLI). This has been previously published within PI Magazine, and is now expanding to a new digital and print format. I will be contributing a regular column - 'Forensic Focus'. Topics will include how the legal-investigative community benefits from the skills and knowledge of the forensic investigator and forensic scientist, and how one benefits directly from the other - ultimately for the purpose of the legal investigation and attorney-client needs.
Also, at the NALI conference in Las Vegas I was surprised to learn
that my TLI article, 'Reviewing and Comprehending Autopsy Reports (also
by CLI whitepaper) from April of this year was awarded the NALI-TLI
Editor-Publisher Award for Second Place! This is a very prestigious
award in the profession. This article can be viewed at our agency articles.Finally,
the latest news on my book is that it is now set to be released three
weeks early - January 22, 2011. The cover is being designed and editing
is in progress. I hope to have a sample cover for next month's
newsletter. Also, updated book details are available at CRC Press - book publication information. If you want a chance to
win a free copy (one awarded per month, delivered after release) - go to
the contest page. |
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
Annual Conference in Las Vegas
| Well, I lost $10 and Karen came out a bit ahead for the limited free time we had to gamble and see Las Vegas. Conferences are a great time to network and learn - and they are busy from beginning to end. NALI holds two conferences per year with a focus on continuing education. Beginning this year the format was changed to include more interactive training outside of the confines of a hotel or conference center.
This conference found us hosted by the Clark County Public Defenders Office, and their investigative staff also attended the training sessions. The speakers provided important tips on police use of force, TASER investigations, Excited Delirium, in-depth background investigation practices, and upcoming technology and investigative techniques.
One highlight of the conference was a case study of a killer from Montana in hiding for over 30 years in Arizona. The case study began with the victim's adult grandson, born after the crime, only recently discovering a box of material about the case and killer's absconding from parole in the 1960s. A progressive team of seasoned private investigators began uncovering a trail and aided in the capture of killer, who has now been sentenced to finish his life sentence.
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Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
Annual Conference
| The annual conference of the PPIAC is one the largest annual fundraiser events of the association. This year there has been a focus, and success, in defeating an anti-surveillance bill that would have severely impacted the work product of many private investigators and their clients. The PPIAC was originally founded to renew professional licensing, declared unconstitutional in the mid 1970s. This year we have a strong support base and one of the best opportunities.
In addition to PPIAC members, the conference is open to and welcomes non-member investigators, paralegals and attorneys.
This year the conference will be held from September 23rd to the 25th at the AmeriStar Hotel & Casino in beautiful Blackhawk, Colorado. Discounted registration is through 08/15/2010.
Eugene Ferraro (Business Controls, Inc.) Current State of the Industry Fred
Joseph (Colorado Securities Commissioner) "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Security Regulation but Were Afraid to Ask"
Terry Cox (Lone Wolf Investigations, Boonesville, MS) and Steve Farese (Attorney) Abused Victim Defense/Mary Winkler
case Stacy Smallwood (Stacy Smallwood Investigations) Setting Up For a Surveillance. Deborah Sherman (9 News, Investigative Reporter) Working with Journalists: Getting Your Case Out There Fairly and Accurately
Michael Horwith (Electronic Legal) Computer Forensics Jeff Kass,
journalist and author of "Columbine: A True Crime Story, a victim, the killers
and the nation's search for answers" - 9:00 a.m.-10:30
a.m.-Eugene Ferraro (Business Controls, Inc) How to Build and Sell a
Multi-Million Dollar Practice
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In the News
|  Some of the latest news of interest ...
-- 06/30/2010: (Fort Collins Police Services) - Lt. James Broderick indicted on eight counts of perjury relating to his arrest affidavit and testimony in the Timothy Masters case. (full story)-- 06/30/2010: (Denver Police Department) - A judge has dismissed criminal charges
against a suspect in a series of downtown racial muggings, blaming the
same Denver detective who was responsible for charges being dropped
against another suspect. In his decision Thursday to dismiss the charges against Puller,
Bronfin concluded that the warrant had included "false statements" and
characterized Baca's sworn statement as "reckless disregard for the
truth." (full story) -- 06/19/2010 (Chicago Police Department) - A Southwest Side man was awarded $1.3 million Tuesday after a Cook
County jury found two Chicago Police detectives and a police polygraph
administrator created a false confession about him in the 2001 murder of
his neighbor, according to the man's lawyers. (full story
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Five Qualities of a Professional Investigator...
|  Skills Appropriate
for the Assignment
Law firms and medical offices
specialize - Professional Investigators also specialize. Their casework and continuing education
should also be in your specialized areas.
Experience and
Knowledge
Professional Investigators
strive to maintain and further these.
All professions have requirements of continuing education. The CLI program requires extensive compliance
with continuing education.
Responsible and
Ethical Conduct
Every component of the
investigation has evidentiary considerations.
Professional Investigators hold themselves to a higher standard and
leaves no question as to the admissibility of their evidence. Information without ethics is not evidence.
Effective
Communication
Professional Investigators
maintain communication with the attorney, client, witnesses, and other key
persons in the investigation. Moreover,
reports are the product of an organized investigation and should reflect the
work product you expect.
Keyword -
'Professional'
Honesty, Integrity &
Intelligence.
These define Professional
Investigators and gives you the confidence that your case is in competent and
skilled hands.
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Coming Next Month...
| This month we missed out on Evidence Spoliation. Also of interest lately has been the question of when best to bring the investigator into the case and what should be immediately started in the investigative process.
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In Closing...
|  We hope this new format works for you. Your feedback is always appreciated - from how we handle the assignments and cases, to how we convey news and information to you.
In the coming months we will be developing two courses for a private investigation continuing education program - Death Investigation and Injury Causation will be the primary course. In addition, articles will be featured in the newsletters for the National Council of Investigation and Security Services, Florida Association of Licensed Investigators and the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators.
As part of the release of the book project, we are in the early stages of developing introductory webinars and full length seminars for continuing education. Continuing education is as important to the investigative profession as it is to the legal profession, but few associations or state licensing boards require it.
Contact our office if you have an interest in attending or sponsoring a seminar or speaking engagement for investigators, attorneys and paralegals.
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Your case is our case and we work diligently to make the seemingly impossible, probable. We are Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence, with PRIDE in every assignment.
Thank You. Please contact us with any questions or for additional information on these topics and our related services.
Sincerely,
Dean A. Beers, CLI (beersda@Forensic-Investigators.com)
Karen S. Beers, BSW (beersks@Forensic-Investigators.com)
Forensic Investigators of Colorado, LLC
(970) 691-0813
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