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Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
A Colorado Limited Liability Company and Licensed Private Investigators
www.Forensic-Investigators.com ~ (970) 480-7793
Quaero Indicium -'To Find the Evidence'
Please distribute to others that may have an interest
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Greetings!
This newsletter comes to you from the area of Boston / Cape Cod. In late August, almost two weeks later than planned, we began our trek across the country. Our initial plan was to make plenty of stops along the way to see friends, relatives - and colleagues. Because of the lateness in getting started, our first leg to Massachusetts was rushed. We are here for the joint conference of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS) and World Association of Detectives (WAD). Our journey will continue down the east coast to northern Florida and then back through the mid-west and back to Colorado, in time for the annual PPIAC conference in mid October. Labor Day was our first relaxing day - and we hope it was for you also. We have seen 14 states, and were given a tour of NYC by Jimmie and Roe Mesis. We have also seen Independence Hall - where our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and voted on - the birth of this greatest nation. We also saw the Liberty Bell and Freedom Tower - an imposing structure at NYC's Ground Zero, and the Statute of Liberty. What amazing history and accomplishments of America! Our journey will continue, and we hope to hear from you and perhaps attend a meeting or two with other state associations as we continue our journey through at least 12 other states! Are you in one of them? As we are on the road, technology continues to be our friend. Communication by voice, email and fax is preferred when possible. What has made our journey - a working vacation of ambassadorship for our profession - possible? Next month, as we test and develop ideas, a blog with some thoughts will be started and shared.
But, at times only the mail will do. Our first class mailing address is:
P.O. Box 1238
Fort Collins, CO. 80522-1238
Please contact us in advance of sending any express services or packages - our mail service address is different and we will NOT see packages delivered to the PO box. We use DropBox for secure and private larger file transfers.
NEWS OF IMPORTANCE
From PPIAC
Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC) annual conference. Dean is speaking at the new Private Investigator Core Curriculum and the conference. The conference will be at the Antlers Hilton Hotel in Colorado Springs. The speaker lineup and schedule are posted at http://ppiac.org/training/private-investigator-conference-colorado-springs.
Also, the FREE pre-conference seminar for new investigators - Private Investigators Core Curriculum (PICC) will be crammed with valuable information. Register for the pre-conference and conference NOW! From NCISS At the annual NCISS conference and meeting, elections were held. AFI-LLC is proud to announce that Dean is now the NCISS Secretary, with a position on both the board and executive council. Other elections results are: President - Jim Zimmer; 1st VP - Bob Heales; 2nd VP - James Huckabee; 3rd VP - Tom Shamshak; Secretary - Dean Beers; Treasurer - Brad Duffy; Regional Directors - Terry Myer, Tom Jackson, Ken Cummins, Debbie Anderson, Jennifer Maghinay and Bill Fletcher. The new board elected immediate past president, Maria Vinson-Landry to Chairwoman.
Congrats to everyone!
IN THIS ISSUE Last month was pretty unusual, with conferences, legislative issues, and useful tips for everyone. This month its a bit slower.
-- NCISS Annual Awards
-- The NCISS Legislative Committee has learned that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) doesn't want investigators conducting workplace investigations to instruct employee witnesses to keep quiet.
-- Speaking and training for National Legal Aid & Defender Association annual conference - Life in the Balance ( www.nlada.org).
-- Teaching - POST continuing education for Wyoming Coroners Association.
-- CRC Author Profiles!
AFI-LLC - Our agency is called upon for many reasons - from investigations to consultations, and from finding the right investigator to the right expert. We have recently added to our case examples found at http://www.forensic-investigators.com/sample-cases.html. |
Bits and Pieces
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HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR MOBILE OFFICE INVESTIGATIONS AND ACTIVITIES?
Beginning in 1994, Dean learned the technologies and developed methods to remove the ties of a traditional office. This same technology also developed into what law enforcement began using that evolved into the Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). It was slow, and expensive, but effective. Today, especially with smart phones, it is second nature to many professionals in adapting to a mobile office environment - its almost a necessity. For us, with our travels, it is a necessity.
Here are some tools and necessities that you will need for your mobile office and adventures:
-- Communication (voice, fax, email and snail mail);
-- Productivity (computers, printers and scanners);
-- Powering your equipment and peripherals.
100% of our investigative and consulting work - for you - is possible without remaining in one location. This allows us both personal and professional freedom. What has made our journey - a working vacation of ambassadorship for our profession - possible? Next month we will introduce a blog with some thoughts and experiences.
About Dean and Karen:
Dean is a subject matter expert in the areas of death investigation and personal injury causation. He is the only Board Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) in northern Colorado, a faculty consultant and Certified Criminal Defense Investigator (CCDI) and is also a certified Medicolegal Death Investigator. He continues to speak extensively on investigative techniques and principles and has authored multiple peer-reviewed white papers, and self-published "Professional Investigations: Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities" and recently published "Practical Methods for Legal Investigations" (CRC Press) He currently consults nationwide as an expert in criminal defense homicide and civil equivocal death investigations.
Karen has been a Legal Investigator and research specialist, since 1996. She has a Bachelor's in Social Work from Colorado State University (Magna Cum Laude) and in 2011 earned the designation Certified Criminal Defense Investigator (CCDI). Together they operate Associates in Forensic Investigations, 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. In addition, she has written for prominent professional investigation journals and was instrumental in the revisions and contributions to both agency books, as well as the co-development of "Death Investigations for Private Investigators" for PIEducation.com
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Our Expert Forensic Affiliations
|  We believe that medicolegal investigation and consultation is a team effort. Stephen Cina MD, Harold Schueler PhD, and our agency are affiliated as experts in our respective fields offering our clients comprehensive medicolegal services.
Dr. Cina is the Chief Medical Examiner of a large metropolitan area in the upper mid-west, and Dr. Schueler is the forensic toxicologist at a south Florida medical examiner's office. Contact our office to consult on medicolegal death and injury causation. The CVs of both Dr. Cina and Dr. Schueler are available by contacting us.
Dr. Cina is also the co-author of the non-fiction historical look at "When Doctors Kill" available at http://whendoctorskill.forensic-investigators.com
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Agency News and Updates
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We have expanded www.PrivateInvestigations.org to include not only email and subdomains, but books and resources for investigations and business operations. |
Associations and News of Our Profession
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NCISS Awards Banquet - Duffy Award and Vinson Award
Named for our first President, John J. Duffy of Davenport, Iowa, founder of Per Mar Security Services, the "Duffy" is the Council's highest honor. The award is presented every other year to an NCISS regular member, "who by their specific deeds and accomplishments has exhibited the highest standards of conduct and service to the private investigation and security service industries." In alternate years the "Duffy" is awarded to a person or entity outside the regular membership, who for their specific service, heroism or other exemplary deed is being honored by the Council.
This year the Duffy Award was presented to Magi and John Bish, parents of Molly Bish. Given for the work of their Molly Bish Foundation - in honor of their daughter, Molly Bish, who was kidnapped and killed summer 2000. Her remains were not found for years, and only in the last couple months did the work of volunteer private investigators (including affiliated AFI-LLC consultant, Thomas Shamshak - www.ShamshakPI.com) lead to the identification and arrest of a suspect never identified by police. There are no words for their story, which they told with captivating passion. Please visit www.MollyBish.org.
In addition to the Duffy Award, Chairwoman Maria Landry announced a new award only for a Regional Director. It was named in honor of JD Vinson, Maria's father and a founding member of NCISS, as well as president. Also present were his son and granddaughter - all, like Maria, having followed in his footsteps. He fought for guard licensing in Louisiana and Vinson Guard Services still holds license 001. Before Maria could tell about the new award, NCISS 1st VP and PPIAC past president, Bob Heales, interjected - revealing that the award was named in honor of her father. He went on to describe the criteria for this new award.
Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (www.PPIAC.org)
PPIAC Quarterly newsletter is available at http://ppiacquarterly2012-2.ppiac.net. Also, set your calendars for October 17th and the no-fee 'Private Investigator Core Curriculum' for new investigators! Also, continue setting your calendars for the 18th, 19th & 20th and the annual PPIAC conference (fee-based) at the Antlers Hilton Hotel in Colorado Springs. Go to http://ppiac.org/training/private-investigator-conference-colorado-springs for details!
National Association of Legal Investigators (www.NALI.com)
Plans are finalized for the NALI mid-winter conference at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis TN. Keep an eye on the NALI website for upcoming details and we look forward to seeing your there! This will be over Valentine's weekend - so bring your Valentine!
Also, the Certified Legal Investigator examinations are given only at the conferences. If interested, please review the details at http://www.nali.com/cli.php and give yourself plenty of time to prepare.
The current issue of NALI's official journal - The Legal Investigator - is now available online at http://www.bluetoad.com/publication?m=14458&l=1.
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (www.NCISS.org)The flurry of activity in Washington, DC continues and it has been keeping NCISS busy on behalf of all professional investigators and security agencies.
The NCISS Legislative Committee has learned that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) doesn't want investigators conducting workplace investigations to instruct employee witnesses to keep quiet. For details from this and other NCISS official legislative alerts, and bills being tracked - please visit http://www.nciss.org/legislation/latest-legislation.php. Members of NCISS receive a copy of the twice-yearly published 'The Report' in the mail. This is also posted online, feel free to share this valuable information about our profession and legislative issues with your colleagues and clients. http://www.nciss.org/documents/The_Report_Fall_2012.pdf World Association of Detectives (www.WAD.net)
The World Association of Detectives (WAD) held its "87th Annual Conference" at the "Boston 2012 International Investigation and Security Professionals Symposium". This was at the same time NCISS held it's "37th Annual Conference".
One of the highlights was a special tour of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the world's largest - and unsolved - art heist.
On the night of March 18, 1990, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and roamed the museum's galleries, stealing thirteen works of art. The stolen works include: Rembrandt's Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633), A Lady and Gentleman in Black (1633) and a Self-Portrait (1634); Vermeer's The Concert (1658-1660); and Govaert Flinck's Landscape with an Obelisk (1638); as well as a Rembrandt etching on paper, and a Chinese vase, or Ku, all taken from the Dutch Room on the second floor. Also stolen from the second floor were five drawings by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas and a finial from the top of a pole support for a Napoleonic silk flag, both from the Short Gallery. Edouard Manet's Chez Tortoni (1878-1880) was taken from the Blue Room on the first floor. There is a $5 million reward for information leading to the recovery of these works. Can you collect this reward?
The latest issue of WAD's magazine, Beyond Global, is pending availability online. You can view the past issue at http://wad.net/site/dl.cgi/1340662419_17362.f_nl_pdf.pdf/wad%20beyond%20mag%20vol6.pdf. Be sure to check the WAD website for the current issue, to be posted soon.
Other Association News
No additional news this month. If your association has news, please send it to us for inclusion.
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In the News
|  News happens so fast, please visit our agency blog for daily and weekly posts on news of interest - www.MedicolegalPI.com or our business Facebook page at www.facebook.com/4N6Associates
INTERESTING ARTICLE ON THE PPIAC CONFERENCE IN COLORADO
PI Now (www.PINow.com) has published an article about the upcoming PPIAC conference in scenic Colorado Springs. http://www.pinow.com/articles/1299/ppiac-annual-conference-2012
Do you have a book to be reviewed or special announcement? Let us know!
If you want to send a complimentary copy, we will gladly review it for you and also provide a customized press release and distribution.
NEW - CRC Press Author Profiles! Check out the new Featured Author profile for Dean at CRC Press! http://www.crcpress.com/authors/i140-dean-a-beers-cli-ccdi
Scott Harrell's complete review for Pursuit Magazine
Burt Hodge's complete review for Florida Association of Licensed InvestigatorsBob Wall's complete review for Professional Private Investigators Association of CO Don Johnson's complete review for PI Magazine Jennifer Brown, CLI, JD, is the Editor for the quarterly newsletter of the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado, writes "Awesome book, Dean. Should be required reading for investigators. It's helped me clean up some of my procedures." |
| The Quint-Essential 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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 In Closing...
| This was our first view of the NYC skyline. Breathtaking, and provoking. Freedom Tower now stands at the WTC Ground Zero site.
The 11th anniversary of the attack on US soil 9/11 is around the corner - just days after this newsletter's initial distribution.
We were given a driving tour of NYC by PI Magazine's Jimmie and Roe Mesis. Part of that tour included going around the destruction that was Ground Zero and remains sacred ground. It was, and still is, unfathomable what happened. Seeing one of the targets of terrorists up close was provoking. Seeing what is being rebuilt with the Freedom Tower - an inspiring beauty in the skyline of NYC - and the Statute of Liberty, as well as many states in our current travels, we are easily reminded of what a great and diverse country we live in and are citizens of.
When asked for a moment of silence, keep these words in mind "Remembered, Never Forgotten".
Respectfully - Dean and Karen
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Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
 | | Dean and Karen Beers |
specializes in the Expert Consultations and Legal Investigations of Personal Injuries, Negligence and Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation.
We can consult on any death or injury causation case from any location with the conveniences of modern technology. Call us today, we're glad to help!
We are the PRIDE of Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC - Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence 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, CCDI (beersda@Forensic-Investigators.com)
Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI (beersks@Forensic-Investigators.com)
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Office: (970) 480-7793 (Dean x1 and Karen x2) ~ Fax: (970) 480-7794 |
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Newsletter and Press Release Archives from July 2010
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Featured Articles
Dean and Karen have several articles published, some are available for reprint.
For details email:
Associates@Forensic-Investigators.com
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Find Us at:
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Dean is at:
Karen is at:
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Professional Associations
Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
World Association of Detectives (WAD) Criminal Defense Investigation Council (CDITC) National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) International Association for Identification (IAI) and (RMDIAI) (Rocky Mountain Division)National Association of Professional Women Mensa USA |
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