Associates in Forensic Investigations
Legal Investigators and Expert Consultants
Personal Injury, Negligence & Death
Civil, Criminal & Probate
Equivocal Death Investigations
Colorado (970) 480-7793 ~ Wyoming (307) 222-0136
Quaero Indicium -'To Find the Evidence'
Please distribute to others that may have an interest
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Greetings "To the living we owe respect, to the dead we owe the truth." -- Voltaire We have long considered these words that drive our purpose. We apply this to the death of US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's death. Please see the special section, below, for our synopsis and how to read our detailed analysis report - Analyzing the Death and Investigation of Justice Scalia. Join Dean and NCISS for our 40th Annual Conference and Hit the Hill event
NCISS holds two annual meetings, the most important is our annual meeting and elections combined with our annual Hit the Hill in Washington DC every April. Members and non-members are welcome - of course we certainly would welcome you to the membership of NCISS. The National Council of Investigation and Security Services, Inc., is a cooperative effort of those companies and associations responsible for providing private security and investigation services to the legal profession, business community, government and the public. Each day we find an increasing number of problems confronting the orderly growth of our profession. These problems include, among others: overly restrictive legislation regarding training and standards, proliferation of legislation requiring local licensing, public misunderstanding and misinformation on the role and contribution of private investigators and security services, and an uninformed media. It is the role of NCISS to meet and solve these problems while seeking to uncover and recommend action on any hidden potential problems which may have an effect on our profession. Not only is this the 40th anniversary of NCISS - the longest and strongest advocate for our investigative and security professions, this is important to me as I am currently the 1st Vice President and have been nominated for President at the April elections. Please join me!
If you cannot attend, a donation or sponsorship is easy to do and helps in our advocacy efforts on behalf of every person in our professions - members and non-members, every agency in our professions benefit.
Thanks, Dean A. Beers
NCISS 1st Vice President, nominated for President
-- Analyzing the Death and Investigation of Justice Scalia
-- Join Dean at the NCISS 40th Annual Conference and Hit the Hill Event
-- Agency News
- Distance Learning - Basics of Forensic Photography
- Scheduled speaking engagements
- Commentary from our blog archives
- GIMG.tv Facts & Forensics with Brandon Perron and The Component Method and Conversations with Karen discussing the death of Justice Scalia
-- Tidbits from Our Colleagues
- Association conferences
-- Associations and News of our Profession
- News from PPIAC NALI, NCISS and WAD, and your association news!
- Top 100 Investigators on Twitter in 2015
-- From the News
- Insurance Fraud Investigators Entitled to Overtime Pay Under FLSA
- Detecting Lies vs. Detecting Truth - Serious Implications
- Recognition - How a travesty led to criminal-justice innovation in Texas
- Private Investigators & the Dirty Little Secret of Subcontracting
- NCISS Celebrates 40 Years and a History of Success! -- The Quint-Essential Qualities of a Professional Investigator
-- Code of Professional Conduct, 3rd Edition, by Kitty Hailey, CLI released!
-- AND MORE!
Together We're Better - Together We Make the Difference! Associates in Forensic Investigations LLC is a Rocky Mountain West Agency owned by Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI.
We provide Expert Consultations and Legal Investigations of Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. We are Subject Matter Experts in Equivocal Death Investigation and Analysis, Medicolegal Investigations of Fatal and Non-Fatal Events.
We are based in the Rocky Mountain West and provide expert consultations nationally. Learn details at www.DeathCaseReview.com
Here is a video explaining what we do and why - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgsvtbSk8fg
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.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html.
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Analyzing the Death and Investigation of Justice Antonin Scalia
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Analyzing the Death and Investigation of Justice Antonin Scalia
"The Constitution is not a living organism. It's a legal document, and it says what it says and doesn't say what it doesn't say." -- Justice Scalia
With the recent death of US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (02/13/2016) - with seemingly unusual circumstances and possibly a grossly negligent investigation leading to the questions surrounding it, a real-world understanding of death investigations is needed.
Death investigation is not limited to homicide investigations, and is best conducted by trained medicolegal death investigators overseen by a forensic pathologist. What makes us qualified to evaluate the death and investigation, as reported, of Justice Antonin Scalia?
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Agency News and Updates
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Distance Learning: Basics of Forensic Photography
We have completed the key components of our newest distance learning course, now the process of putting it together on the online video platform. This will be completed this month, and a 50% discount will be available in March and April. Visit www.InvestigativeCourses.com for details and watch for the new course to be posted. The discount will be www.udemy.com/draft/770704/?couponCode=FP-50%25
Scheduled Speaking Engagements
Our agency is scheduled for the following speaking engagements this year: PAWLI (Wisconsin) end of March CALI (California) in June TALI (Texas) in August Please see below for conference dates and details!
Commentary from the blog archives of AFI-LLC at www.deathcasereview.com/afi-llc-blog.html - Keep up with the current events of our agency and profession through our blog. Dating back to the fall of 2011, there are dozens of articles, tips and resources for professional investigators and those seeking the assistance of professional investigators.
Investigative team takes pride in helping victims (originally posted 10/13/2011) The local newspaper did this business profile on us - published Monday 10/10/2011. Although we did not choose the title, interestingly they chose to describe us as a 'team', our first emphasis, and 'pride', our second emphasis. PRIDE is an acronym we use for Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence. Investigating Without Playing into Drama (originally posted 07/14/2015) As investigators we are surrounded by different types of drama. It might be cheating drama, murder drama, suicide drama, trial drama; insurance fraud drama and the list could go on and on. You, as an investigator, understand the picture. What we, as level headed, fact finding, responsible investigators should strive for, is to down play the drama of clients and never create or feed into the drama. Statement Analysis - How Much Does a Statement Reveal? (originally posted 11/12/2011) This is not meant to be a political review, but given this well-known statement and alleged incident, a cursory review reveals more questions than answers, and perhaps some insight into truth v. deception. First, the underlying incident is said to have occurred in July 1997, 14 years before it was reported in the media. How accurate does a person remember personal interactions and conversations? Pretty well if you follow this statement. However, that can and should be individualized during the interview process. What is the value of hiring a PI for background checks and investigations? (originally posted 12/09/2011) Over the years it has been increasingly easy for the private citizen to check the backgrounds of other individuals at little to no cost. In many states various public records have been made more available directly, or by data services reselling data. At the same time there have been more restrictions on records that can be accessed, often requiring a PI license, or redacted considerably or completed banned from access. One record that is easy and free, in most jurisdictions and via online sources are the sex offender registrations - from local to national. But, each of these resources does no good if not used, used improperly or not verified.
Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities for your Civil, Criminal, Probate and Domestic Relations litigation For over 25 years our agency has provided cost-effective and accurate verified Individual Locates, Backgrounds, and Assets & Liabilities. States and availability of records vary.
Legal Investigations and Expert Consultations of Death or Serious Bodily Injury in Civil, Criminal and Probate We specialize in helping other PIs and attorneys assisting families. Contact our agency any time - we're there when you need us. www.4N6Associates.com
Global Investigators Media Group (GIMG.tv) with Facts & Forensics
The February show is posted at http://gimg.tv/022-facts-forensics. In this show we focus on the death and investigation of Justice Scalia, and Dean wraps it up with special friend and guest, Brandon Perron, CCDI to discuss in Component Method and Certified Criminal Defense Investigator program.
Be sure and visit www.GIMG.tv for all of the Global Investigators Media Group hosts and shows!
DISTANCE LEARNING FOR INVESTIGATORS
AFI-LLC is developing distance learning video on demand courses for investigators, and has put together some distance learning courses from other contributors. See complete details at www.InvestigativeCourses.com
BOOKS FOR INVESTIGATORS
AFI-LLC has put together some of the best fiction and non-fiction books available from Amazon. These range from studying for certifications to best practices, and investigative fiction and non-fiction. Most of these are written by our friends and colleagues, including fellow CLIs and CCDIs. See the complete list of books at http://amazon.privateinvestigations.org
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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. Dr. Schueler is the Chief Forensic Toxicologist of a large mid-Atlantic metropolitan area.
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 .
We are proud of our working relationship with Dr. Cina, since 2002 and Dr. Schueler since 2010.
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Tidbits from Our Profession
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Association Conferences
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
49th Annual Conference
April 27-30, 2016
Crowne Plaza Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
NCISS 40th Annual Conference and Hit the Hill!
Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, Baltimore, MD Details at www.NCISS.org
World Association of Detectives (WAD)
WAD 2016 Mid-Term Board Meeting
April 17-19, 2016
Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) FALI Annual Conference May 12-14, 2016 Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore Details at www.FALI.orgTexas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI)2016 World Investigators / TALI Conference August 16-19, 2016 La Torretta Lake Resort and Conference Center on Lake Conroe Details at www.TALI.orgCalifornia Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)CALI Annual Conference June 11-14, 2016 Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa Details at www.CALI-PI.orgCriminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC)Certified Forensic Science Investigator Program (CFSI)40 - Hour Training Academy ProgramsNational Defender Investigators Association (NDIA)NDIA National Conference
April 6-7, 2016 Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh PA Details at www.NDIA.netProfessional Association of Wisconsin Licensed Investigators (PAWLI) PAWLI Conference 2016March 31-April 1, 2016 The Hotel Mead, Wisconsin Rapids WI Details at www.PAWLI.com
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Associations and News of Our Profession
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Professional Private investigations Association of Colorado (www.PPIAC.org) Monthly meetings are the first Wednesday of each month, usually in the Denver metro area. PPIAC will begin holding training sessions specific to the new licensing program. National Association of Legal Investigators ( www.NALI.com)
NALI is the premier association for legal investigators for civil plaintiff and criminal defense, and oversees the prestigious Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) program. Experience is required to join and all members are subject to a background check.
The current issue of NALI's official journal - The Legal Investigator - is now available online at www.nalionline.org/publications.htm
National Council of Investigation and Security Services ( www.NCISS.org)
In the month of February, Lobbyit arranged a phone call with Eric Ellman, Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Legal Affairs, Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) to discuss difficulties private investigators are having in acquiring credit histories, met with Senator Toomey's staff to discuss reintroduction of the Security Officer Screening Improvement Act (SOSIA), met with Senate Commerce Committee staff to discuss FAA reauthorization, drones, and data broker legislation, and met with staff for Senator Grassley to discuss NCISS's Hit The Hill.
This full NCISS Hill Report and details of these topics is available at http://conta.cc/1RFoqcp Updated Benefits for NCISS Members!
NCISS has just updated its benefits page for members and is looking forward to having you join. View the new extended benefits at http://conta.cc/1R3CMUv
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archiveThe current issue of NCISS's official newsletter - Your Advocate - is now available online at www.nciss.org/your-advocate. NCISS is the voice of investigators and security personnel at the federal level. The primary mission of NCISS is to watch federal legislation and work with members to take appropriate action to support beneficial, or oppose harmful, legislation in the course of performing their professional services. Dean is the editor of Your Advocate. Members of NCISS receive a copy of the newsletter three times a year. The current bi-monthly issue of The eAdvocate, and all NCISS Legislative Alerts, and key benefits are posted at http://conta.cc/ZoQsTl.
WAD is a global alliance of investigators and security professionals with origins dating back to 1921 and formalized in 1925. WAD is the longest established and largest association of its kind in the world. Karen is the new WAD Administrative Manager, and Dean is continuing as the Governor of the Americas (North, Central and South America). Together we work to further the mission of WAD and provide resources to clients needing assistance in these regions. The WAD magazine, Beyond Global, is available online at http://www.wad.net/newsletters-beyond-global. Additional memberships include FALI, TALI and CALI state associations, as well as specialty specific national associations (see right side-bar).
If your association has news, please send it to us for inclusion in our newsletter.
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From the News
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Insurance Fraud Investigators Entitled to Overtime Pay Under FLSA
Sent by Steve Rambam - from Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Insurance fraud investigators are not exempt from the overtime pay requirements mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
As part of its insurance business, GEICO General Insurance Company hires security investigators to work in its claims department for the purpose of investigating claims that are suspected of being fraudulent. The FLSA requires employers to pay overtime for each hour their employees work in excess of 40 hours per week. However, individuals who are employed in a bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacity are exempt from the FLSA's overtime pay requirements. The exemption requires, among other things, that the employee's duties are performed in an office or in a nonmanual work setting, are directly related to the management of the company, and include the exercise of discretion and independent judgment.
Detecting Lies vs. Detecting Truth - Serious Implications
What the wrongfully convicted can tell us about body language and deception.
In 100% percent of these cases, the prosecutor and the judge, but more importantly, the investigating officers who initiated these cases through the legal system, believed that these individuals were lying when they denied their complicity. One hundred percent is a number that you almost never hear in anything (even germ killers are only 99% effective), and yet here, 100% of the officers involved were convinced through statements and through reading the defendant's body language that they were the true culprit. 100% of the officers involved swore and averred that these individuals were culpable, beyond all doubt, lying in their protestations and declarations of innocence. This is the part that should make every law enforcement officer who is ethical and every citizen to take pause. 100% of the officers in these cases failed to detect the truth.
Recognition - How a travesty led to criminal-justice innovation in Texas
In a dissenting opinion in 1981, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan wrote that "eyewitness identification evidence is notoriously unreliable." Dozens of scientific studies support this claim. Nevertheless, eyewitness testimony continues to be used widely, and many criminal cases hinge on it almost exclusively. Since 1989, two hundred and eighty people have been exonerated of sexual-assault charges in the U.S. Nearly three-quarters of those wrongful convictions relied, in whole or in part, on a mistaken identification by an eyewitness.
Thanks to our friends at the California Association of Licensed Investigators ( www.CALI-PI.org) for sharing this article.
Private Investigators & the Dirty Little Secret of Subcontracting (two parts) (Pursuit Magazine - www.PursuiteMag.com)
Are you a private investigator who wants to work insurance fraud cases or worker's compensation claims (aka "SIU" or Special Investigations Unit) cases?
If you own a small PI firm, you probably haven't had any luck being hired directly by insurance companies. You're struggling to compete with the big national investigations firms. Maybe you've considered subcontracting or becoming a vendor for the big PI companies, as a back door into these kinds of cases.
NCISS News
NCISS is celebrating 40 years as the longest and strongest advocate of the investigative and security professions. Here is a short list of the most important historical successes for every investigative and security agency - not just NCISS members: Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) - 1994 NCISS successfully stopped the action and negotiated the language in the DPPA which allows access to the records.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) - 1999
NCISS was able to obtain exemptions for child support enforcement. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) - 2003 NCISS's diligent work successfully effected change to correct the unintended consequences in the FCRA affecting workplace investigations. Second Amendment - June 2008 NCISS, along with several other state investigative and security associations, joined forces to file an "industry" amicus brief in support of the security guard Dick Heller's claim before The Supreme Court of the United States that the District of Columbia's 32-year old ban on handguns was incompatible with the Second Amendment. Social Security Numbers NCISS has been successful in staving off this restrictive action. Pretext NCISS is protecting your right to use a pretext. Special thanks to Francie Koehler for sharing this history! Francie is the Legislation Chair-Investigation, a past-president and a past Board Chair of NCISS. The best way to stay current and support the investigative and security professions is by joining NCISS. Visit the NCISS web site for a compendium of key legislation by state at www.nciss.org/legislation then go to the link entitled "State Legislation." The white states are states that either have no pending bills of interest or are not in session. You can also page down to your state where it is listed alphabetically.
Check out the recently launched "Advocacy Hub." If you have not heard about the "Advocacy Hub," the Hub allows members to send already drafted letters to key legislators and government officials right from the web site.
Archives of NCISS Legislative Alerts
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| 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...
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Code of Professional Conduct (3rd Edition) by Kitty Hailey, CLI
RELEASED!
We recently learned that Kitty has released the 3rd edition of her book, Code of Professional Conduct. This is the MUST have book for EVERY professional investigator!
We all know how important her Code of Professional Conduct and expertise in our professional ethics is. This latest book touches on the emerging technologies we all deal with and is a very important update. We have ordered ours and look forward to seeing the updates. Next month we will feature a review.
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We specialize in helping other PIs and attorneys assisting families. Contact our agency any time - we're there when you need us. Together We're Better - We Make the Difference!
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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 provide investigations and consultations of any death or injury causation case from any location with the conveniences of modern technology and assistance of our local professional friends and colleagues.
In addition, we continue to provide Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities for your Civil, Criminal, Probate and Domestic Relations litigation. Additional information at www.deathcasereview.com/general-services.html
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
Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
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Newsletter and Press Release Archives from July 2010
< Click Here >
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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:
 | | Find us and 'Like' us! |
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) Inner Circle of Investigators (ICI) Criminal Defense Investigation Council (CDITC) National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) International Association for Identification (IAI) and (RMDIAI) |
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