Private Investigators: Friend Or Foe To Police?

On June 8, a 55-year-old woman in the Winter Park area of Florida was brutally punched in the face and robbed of her cell phone. According to WFTV, since it was dark outside at the time of the attack, people in the area were unable to identify the attacker. After almost two full months, police are struggling to find leads on the criminal's identity. In response, news station WKMG reported on August 1 that the victim had hired private investigator Glen Promise, believing that he could do a better job of finding the perpetrator than police have.

Since Promise has been hired to work the case, conflict has emerged between the private investigator and the Winter Springs police. Glen Promise is attempting to find the identity of a man in the area that was seen exposing himself shortly before the incident. Police say that identifying this person of interest will not find the perpetrator of the attack. Kevin Brunelle, Police Chief in Winter Springs, says that Promise has asked police to only communicate with the victim through him. On the other hand, Promise says that he needs police assistance since he cannot make an arrest.

Do Private Investigators Work With Or Against The Police?

The Winter Park jogger attack raises an interesting question about private investigators: are they helpful allies for the police or vigilantes that law enforcement officers look down on? The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.

While private investigators like Mike Garroutte at Linked Investigations often try their best to collaborate with police officers and share evidence and leads, this is not always possible. One of the reasons that people hire private investigators, in fact, is because they have ways of operating that are outside of the protocol of law enforcement officers.

One great example of how a private investigator can help a client in ways that the police can't is found in their ability to interview a witness. Of course a police officer can interview witnesses, but not everyone will respond to someone with a badge and uniform, especially if they have a history of negative encounters with the police or a standing warrant for their arrest. Private investigators have the upper hand in these kinds of situations, because they can conduct plainclothes, low-pressure interviews that are more conducive to getting answers from witnesses or persons of interest. We at Linked Investigations have conducted thousands of sensitive interviews and interrogations of witnesses in civil and criminal matters and for employers, resulting in the truth coming to light and numerous positive outcomes including numerous arrests and convictions.

Another way that private investigators can help their clients where police might not be able to is through surveillance services. Cops generally need to have a warrant to prove that there is a good reason for them to be conducting surveillance on a specific person or organization. A private investigator, on the other hand, is allowed to watch someone as long as they do not violate the law by trespassing onto private property. This means that hiring a private investigator will allow you to get answers on what a person is doing, even if the police have no legal grounds to track them.

Private Investigators And Police Coexisting: The Ideal Situation

Criminal cases are very complex, and things can change as new information becomes available. It is tough to say whether Glen Promise and the Winter Springs police will be able to work together to track down the attacker that struck on June 8, but teamwork between private investigators and police officers can often help solve crimes much more quickly.

Whether you are looking for a private investigator to work with the police or do things that law enforcement officers cannot, hire a skilled private investigator to make sure that you get the services you need. Contact Mike Garroutte, owner of Linked Investigations if you feel private investigative services will augment a current police department investigation.

Mike is a highly experienced, licensed private investigator who works in Los Angeles, Orange County and the surrounding Southern California communities. Your can call him at 714-432-9911 or email him: info@linkedinvestigations.com

Published on: 
September 5, 2014
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