BulldogPI response to PINOW.com article: 5 Major Challenges Private Investigators Are Currently Facing
From the PINOW.com article:
“Many challenges present themselves to private investigators daily but some are part of the job and some are an outcome of the current economic and professional atmosphere.”
Item #1:
“Large investigation firms:
Large investigation firms are popping up in states with no license requirement and offering their services to individuals across the country. This practice can create an environment where clients are not getting the best services, and it is causing many local investigators to lose work.”
This is certainly not news to the Bulldog. In fact, it’s about time PINOW addressed the issue. Is it such a surprise large investigation corporations are not the most efficient way for clients to find answers? Unfortunately fewer and fewer people have a proactive mindset. The growing trend is to follow the path of least resistance, not research effective options.
http://bulldogpi.com/2010/09/26/all-private-investigation-firms-are-not-the-same/
In case my readership hasn’t figured out, this ‘Namby Pamby’ approach doesn’t set well with the BulldogPI.
PINOW article, Item #2:
“Government regulations:
Government regulations that affect investigators, such as audio and video surveillance laws, have a large effect on how investigators work. Some investigators believe stricture regulations and laws prevent them from conducting investigations efficiently and completing their jobs properly and quickly…”
I find the whole situation saturated with bitter Irony. Here in Virginia, the topic of private investators utilizing GPS devices remains a hot one with lawmakers determined to end the practice. Meanwhile, we can’t even get DCJS to effectively enforce regulations already in place. ‘Outlaw investigators’ continue to appear on the scene, way too few are actually ever penalized.
My profession has fallen into ‘hard times’ for many reasons. I’ve noticed that attorneys, generally speaking, view PI’s as competition for billable hours, versus an effective resource. I guess they plan on obtaining evidence through some sort of osmosis… or perhaps court is now more about posturing and good theatre. Many insurance (not to mention telecommunications) have taken short sighted viewpoints of ‘acceptable losses’ stemming from fraudulent claims and/or theft. Why should they care after all? Those expenses are just transferred on to their customers for the most part, who remain in blissfull ignorance.
As CEO of Bulldog Investigations, last month I made a major decision. We are shifitng gears from the realm of ‘general practicioners’ to highly trained ‘specialists’ of the industry. The new game plan is a very risky move, but the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows… and Ive got some stuff left in the basement. After all, did you expect less from yours truly?
-BulldogPI
PI finds 30-30 shell casings at Caldwell Fields Murder Site.
Private Investigators think outside the box… that’s how we survive.
Most PI’s tend to have a variety of interests, and BulldogPI is no exception. Two of my favorite past times are:
Metal Detecting & Catching dirtballs.
I’m out of patience and seeking answers. So on the morning of Friday, April 20th, I paid an overdue visit to Caldwell Fields.
After unloading my metal detector, camera, and shovels from the car, I began scanning over the murder site. Twenty minutes later, old BulldogPI found what he was looking for:
Bullet casings.
In the area surrounding where Metzler had parked his Toyota Camry the afternoon of Augst 26, 2009 I found them, approximately three to four inches down.
So what Bulldog? Jefferson National Forest is quite popular during hunting season.
True. I would argue however based on the condition of the casings (between two and five years old) and more importantly their caliber and location, one might want to pay a bit more attention.
These are bullet casings from a 30-30 rifle. the very same weapon used to murder Virginia Tech students, David Metzler and Heidi Childs. Detective Rakes from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office was notified at the time of their retrieval and expressed an interest. I will turn over the fired shells to a deputy shortly.
One step closer. Be patient Dirtball… I’m coming
Don’t like whats being said about your company? Call in damage control: Reputation.com
I find this pretty interesting, as well as very questionable:
https://www.reputation.com/reputationdefender
Fix your Google results today.
“No one asks people for job references or background information anymore, they ask Google. And if your name turns
up news reports, legal filings, embarrassing party photos, or other questionable material, you’re likely to get passed over.”
“Our patented technology and patented, proprietary strategies, developed by world-class scientists, engineers and years of R&D, can make good content rank highly in your results, eventually displacing the negative content and bumping it out of your top results.
“This approach also prevents future negative content from appearing where people will see it. So don’t wait — the longer people see the personal attacks, police reports, bankruptcy filings or other negative content in your top search results, the more damage it does. Take back control of your search results now.”
So what does this mean exactly? It’s ok if you run a shoddy company, do shoddy work, or irresponsible actions so long as you can cut us a check to clean up the aftermath? What’s wrong wth this picture?
An short online conversation with a reputation.com representive resulted in the following dialogue:
Sarah: You will want to look into our ReputationDefender service which specializes in combating negative or unwanted online content. Since every case is unique with ReputationDefender and I am not an expert, I am not the best person to speak to this. What I can do is put you in touch with a ReputationDefender specialist who is an expert and can answer all of your questions in detail.
You: ok…
Sarah: What is a good number for a specialist to reach you?
I thought one of the benefits of the Internet was finding out what others had to say about a companies goods and services and whether they were up to par…. apparently no longer so long as a company has deep pockets….
-BulldogPI
Drones: Bulldog Investigations prepares to take flight
Like it or not, here they come:
Unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles (also known as drones, or UAVs) will soon be hovering in the skys above. In fact, they already are. A number of companies are already offering aerial photography services…. in clear defiance of FAA’s restrictions. The Feds sit back and do nothing while the lid beings blowing off the pressure cooker. Truth be told, I think they’re afraid someone might actual challenge their jurisdiction over anything and everything airborne over the United States. Just how do the r/c helicopters being used in California to advertise real estate in a new way, flying between 25 and 50 feet off the ground, pose a threat to air traffic?
One company even recently used r/c aircraft to promote a movie.
You mean to tell me this wasn’t a commercial use?
From what I understand,these r/c pilots were even given permission by NYC authorities to fly around the statute of liberty.
OOPS
The drone approach won’t work for everything… but it will prove tremendously helpful for those situations where an investigator needs to take a quick look.
What vehicles are present at that house I cannot see back there in the woods?
Hmm, I thought John Doe was out on disability due to his injuries. That sure looks like him up on the roof…..
This is the direction I plan to take my company and the area I plan to specialize in.
BulldogPI is a proud member of AUVSI (the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International)
Facebook timeline format: alienating members
I hope facebook heeds my advice, I don’t think as of yet I’ve heard one positive comment regarding their new timeline format. Facebook needs to remember that they are ultimately a business, one focused primarily on profit through advertising and popularity. If they make the mistake of not listening to their customers then they risk declining in popularity. I’m sure plenty of other ‘upstart companies’ would love to fill the void….
You would think that it wouldn’t take a PI to help them figure that out.
-BulldogPI
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/feeds/facebook-timeline-privacy-concerns-deepen-as-rollout-begins/4424
BulldogPI leaves NAPPS: ‘…not in plantiff’s interest…’
Just some of Frontier Communications losses for March 2012
3/28/2012 DAESE, WV 650 feet of 50 pair/24 gauge cable
(SCV approximately 11,000)
3/18/2012 Gauley Bridge, WV 840 feet of aerial telephone cable
3.19/2012 Bradshaw, WV 800 feet of aerial telephone cable
3/15/2012 LAWTON, WV 300 feet of aerial telephone cable
3/9/2012 Summersville, WV 320 feet of aerial telephone cable
(SCV approximately 3,000)
3/6/2012 Branchland, WV 250 feet of aerial telephone cable
Note: [SCV is an aconym for Scrap Copper Value] The figures do not indicate actual value of cable or installation expenses, but solely the approximate scrap value of the copper. Actual replacement costs are MUCH higher.
-BulldogPI
