FICO-LLC
Quaero Indicium
'To Find the Evidence'

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Greetings!

This month marks the 9th anniversary of 9/11 - we would like to offer that we all take a moment that morning to remember the tragic events of that day, and the lives lost and changed forever.

As professional investigations in Colorado, particularly the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC - Dean is the VP of Membership), it has been an interesting year.  First the defeat of an anti-surveillance bill, and now a private investigator in Weld County has been charged with stalking.  This activity is legal and protected for licensed private investigators in other states.  See 'In the News' below for more information on this story.

The National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS - Dean is the interim Membership Chairman) was founded 35 years ago for the purpose of being the voice of the investigative profession in Washington, DC.  Some interesting bills are floating around that could have an impact on what services private investigators can provide.  Also see 'In the News' below for more information.

Karen has written her first professional article, debuting in this newsletter.  It relates her experiences while working with troubled juveniles in a residential program.  Our newsletter podcast has been lost to the economy, but another opportunity has presented itself - keep watching here for more information.

Dean gave a presentation on death and personal injury investigation to a careers class at Everest Community College in Thornton.  This was by invitation of the teacher, Todd Faubion of Pinnacol.  This presentation has been posted at our Slide Share account:

As you are no doubt aware, our agency offers a wide range of litigation support to both attorneys and investigators.  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 website at www.Forensic-Investigators.com to review the highlights of our services and resources.  Call us today to review your case and investigative needs.

Links to newsletters and articles are at www.MedicoLegalPI.com.

Our Grandkids!
Gage + Cash (13mths) & Jacee (20mths) 08/28/2010
Gage, Cash & Jacee 08/28/2010

Important Dates
The following are the important dates for this month and the 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.

NEW - mark your calendars for October 07th.  Don Johnson, CLI from Indiana, and Dean will be guests on 'PIs Declassified', an Internet radio show hosted by Francie Koehler of Special Circumstances in California.  They will be talking about Equivocal Death Investigations and the Legal Investigator.

The show airs live, with call in questions, every Thursday from 10am to 11am MST.  Be sure and tune in October 07th!  If you miss the live show, it is aired twice in the following week, and is available for podcast download.  Each show has been very interesting!


September
Aug 31st-Sep 2nd (Tue-Thu) - Fingerprint Classification / Comparison continuing ed
06th (Mon) Labor Day
16th & 17th (Thu & Fri) Speaker - Utah Private Investigators Association conference
22nd to 25th (Wed-Sat) Attendance - PPIAC annual conference

October
14th-19th (Thu-Tue) Personal - Anniversary Vacation


November
* Pending TBD Forensic Photography - Wyoming Coroners Assoc. annual conference
* 25th & 26th (Thu & Fri) Thanksgiving
Gangs - The Ties That Bind (Karen S. Beers, BSW)

Karen S. Beers, BSW
Karen S. Beers, BSW
I had been an associate investigator with my husband, Dean Beers CLI, for a few years when I decided to go back to school to get my bachelor's degree.  I had my Associate's in Science; however I decided to switch gears and go for a degree that was well-rounded in different aspects of human beings and their behaviors to better assist us in our business.  I chose the field of Social Work.  The Social Work program requires 450 supervised field related hours of work.  That is a lot of hours in a semester when both working and attending classes full-time.

 

My first choice was to do my internship work as a parole officer; however, they were not flexible as to when I could work, so I chose a facility for at-risk youths, working with male teens.  The facility where I worked was for teens who lived in the house while working through the different program steps and setting goals to eventually go back to their lives, or move on to bigger and better things.  These youths usually had struggles with substance abuse, behavioral issues, and legal problems as well as mental health related struggles.  Most of the youths had histories of neglect and abuse, which in turn caused them problems in areas of expressing anger properly, cooperating with other youths as well as authority figures, and they generally resisted positive changes in their lives.



About the author:

Karen has been an Associate Legal Investigator and Administrative Assistant, since 1996.  Together they operate Forensic Investigators of Colorado, LLC.  In addition to her skilled interactions with troubled youths, she trained and worked as a Deputy Coroner at the Larimer County Medical Examiner's Office.  This background provides essential skills and knowledge in their Personal Injury, Negligence and Death investigations and consultations in Colorado and nationally.


Practical Methods for Legal Investigations:  Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases
Release Date 01/22/2010
Book Cover due 01/22/2011
This is the cover of Dean's book due out January 22, 2011!

You can find more information, including pre-orders, at:

You can also register to receive notifications of release, as well as a chance to win a free copy, at:

Writing continues to be busy this summer.  Dean just submitted an article to the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for print in the November issue of 'Trial Talk'.  Dean's thanks and appreciation to Mac Hester, Fort Collins plaintiff's attorney, for contacting him to contribute the article.

This article looks at the relationship of the legal investigator and plaintiff's attorney, and specific investigative principles for investigating motor vehicle collision litigation.  We use these concepts, also found in Dean's book, as highlights of the article - its almost like a sneak peek!
Our Expert Forensic Affiliations
Forensic Pathology and Autopsy Consultations
Autopsy Review
Dean began working with Forensic Pathologist Stephen Cina MD, in late 2002 and Karen in late 2004, as a death investigators and forensic autopsy assistants when Dr. Cina was the appointed Medical Examiner for Weld County and Deputy Medical Examiner for Larimer County.

Dr. Cina accepted a position as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for Broward County, FL and later Dean returned to the private sector.  There has always been maintained a mutual medical and investigative working relationship, assisting each other with consulting on death and injury causation cases.

Dr. Schueler is the Chief Toxicologist of the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office (Florida).  He puts his PhD. to use on a daily basis figuring out complex toxicological cases and testifying to the effects of drugs and alcohol on the body.  He was the lead toxicologist on the Anna Nicole Smith autopsy and has appeared as a toxicology expert numerous times on television.

Contact our office to consult on medicolegal death and injury causation.  Dr. Cina's services, and CV, are available at his website - Autopsy Review.  Dr. Scheuler can also be contacted through Dr. Cina's private practice or our office.


We believe that medicolegal investigation is a team effort, and that is why he has asked Dr. Schueler and our agency to be affiliated as experts in our respective fields and to offer comprehensive services to our clients. It is an honor to work with him and Forensic Toxicologist Dr. Harold Schueler.

Death Investigation for the Legal Investigator
Death Investigation PresentationFractions of an inch or an alteration in an event, or series of events, may be the only difference between a serious bodily injury or death.
Death investigation is not limited to homicide.  In fact, homicide is the most infrequent manner and cause of death.  Personal injury investigation is enhanced by the understanding of death investigation.


Any component of death investigation can be applied to personal injury investigation - from the chain of events leading to the injury and/or death, to the mechanisms of injury or death.


Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC) Annual Conference
This is the last chance to register for the annual conference of the PPIAC.  This is the largest annual training and fundraiser event of the association. 

AND - this conference has been approved for 8 CLE credits for attorneys attending the full conference!  This conference has standing approval for continuing education for Certified Legal Investigators from the National Association of Legal Investigators, as well as other state and national associations.

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.

  • Eugene Ferraro, CPP, CFE, PCI (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, CLI (Lonewolf Group, Booneville, 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, CPP, CFE, PCI (Business Controls, Inc) How to Build and Sell a Multi-Million Dollar Practice
September 23rd to the 25th
AmeriStar Hotel & Casino, Blackhawk, Colorado
(Conference Details) and (Registration)
In the News
CourtroomSome of the latest news of interest ...

Weld County Private Investigator Charged
A private investigator has been charged with stalking after placing a GPS locator device on a vehicle for a client in a child custody dispute case.  The controversy in using GPS devices does exist, and there are ethical and legal considerations.

At this time the facts of the case are not clear.  Of importance to our profession is that without licensing of private investigators in Colorado there is no protection or defined legal use, such as in Michigan and New Hampshire.

One detail that was noted, and is of great concern, is one party in the case contacting the adverse party and advising them of this activity.  This introduces a high-risk safety concern for all persons involved, including the private investigator.  Although our agency is not involved in these types of cases, it does underscore our practice of working directly for the attorney.



Coincidentally, legislation is making its way through Congress which does address stalking and the use of GPS devices.  NCISS, the voice of private investigators in Washington DC, has kept an eye on this bill.  The version passed in the House, and sent to the Senate, defines stalking as having the element of 'intent' to cause duress or intimidation, making a legitimate use and safeguard for private investigators.


National Association of Legal Investigators [NALI]
The Chairman of the Certified Legal Investigator Committee nominated me as Region 6 Representative, which I am honored to have accepted.  There are 76 CLIs worldwide, predominantly in the United States.

Region 6 includes Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.  There are seven active CLIs in Region 6 - four active in Colorado (including myself), one in New Mexico, and two in Arizona; they are:
-- Dean Beers, Northern Colorado
-- Ellis Armistead, Denver metro
-- Jennifer Brown, Denver metro
-- Craig Rimer, Denver metro
-- Bill Elliott, Albuquerque metro
-- Jon Colvin, Phoenix metro
-- Frederick Douglas, Phoenix metro
-- Jane Cracraft, Denver metro (retired)

To learn more about NALI go to www.NALI.com
To learn more about the CLI program go to http://www.nali.com/cli.php
and visit information on our agency website 'What is a CLI?'
Five Qualities of a Professional Investigator...
Certified Legal 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.


Coming Next Month...
I will be sharing the experiences of the PPIAC conference, as well as my guest lecture at the annual conference for the Private Investigators Association of Utah.  This will be on my five-step protocol for legal investigations - the basis of my book and upcoming full-day seminar series.


In Closing...
Justice Center"I have no special talent, I am passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

The summer is coming closer to an end with Labor Day just around the corner.  Have a fun and safe Labor Day - no working allowed!  Enjoy a good barbecue and family time.

I will be spending time with my family.  10 years ago, on September 01, 2000, I was driving my Dad and I to his sister's house in Colorado Springs.  A short distance from her house we were in a motor vehicle collision caused by a young intoxicated driver.  During the following many months of recovery I learned of the Certified Death Investigator training program at the Larimer County Medical Examiner's Office, applied and was accepted in September of 2002.  After a few more years of training and part-time experience, I was offered and accepted a full-time position in 2005.  Those two experiences have embedded in our family the importance of life, family and each day given to us.

Those two experiences also gave us the dedication we have to assisting individuals and families that are victims to the negligent acts and behavior of another.  Also on September 01, but in 2008, I answered the call to return to the private sector to help victims and families of victims of traumatic events.  As with that collision, Karen's support and involvement has been our success.  My thanks to Karen, our family, and our clients.  October 1st will be 23 years of professional investigations.


And don't forget
...
As part of the release of my 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.
Dean and Karen
Dean and Karen Beers
Forensic Investigators of Colorado, LLC, specializes in the medicolegal consultation and investigation of cases involving traumatic injuries or death, as well as cases involving serious criminal charges.

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 ([email protected])
Karen S. Beers, BSW ([email protected])

Forensic Investigators of Colorado, LLC
Office:  (970) 691-0813
Fax:  (970) 372-4717
In This Issue
Important Dates...
Gangs - The Ties That Bind
Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases
Our Expert Forensic Affiliations
Death Investigation for the Legal Investigator
PPIAC Conference
In the News...
Five Qualities of a Professional Legal Investigator
Coming Next Month...
In Closing...
On Our website
Quick Links

About FICO-LLC

What is a CLI?
CLI Requirements

Investigator Bios (home)


Forensic Pathology Consultants
On our website
Since 1987
www.MedicoLegalPI.com
FICO-LLC

Newsletter Archives from 2008

Articles:

- 'Reviewing and Comprehending Autopsy Reports'

'The Legal Investigator's Relationship with Families'

'Woodchipper Fatality'

 

Slideshow Presentations:

About Forensic Investigators of Colorado, LLC

GPS and Digital Photography

-Attorney and Investigator Ethics

 

Book Update:

Protocols of Legal Investigation

Find Us

Find us on Facebook

View my profile on LinkedIn

Follow us on Twitter

Slideshow Presentations:
www.slideshare.com/dbeerspi
Professional Associations

Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
VP of Membership

National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
Certified Legal Investigator
CLI Committee - Region 6
Newsletter Contributing Editor

National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
Membership Committee Chair
State Association Advisory Board


World Association of Detectives (WAD)

National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)

International Association for Identification (IAI and RMDIAI)

Mensa USA
Click Image to Enter a Chance to Win a Copy!


by Dean A. Beers, CLI (available January 22, 2011)

PrepareInquire � Analyze � Document � Report