Criminal Investigation for the Professional Investigator (Professional Investigators)

186 Pages·2006·2.51 MB·English

by  Warren J. Sonne

Criminal
Investigation
for the
Professional
Investigator
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Criminal
Investigation
for the
Professional
Investigator
Warren J. Sonne
Boca Raton London New York
A CRC title, part of the Taylor & Francis imprint, a member of the
Taylor & Francis Group, the academic division of T&F Informa plc.
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Published in 2006 by
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
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International Standard Book Number-10: 0-8493-8051-0 (Hardcover)
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-8493-8051-8 (Hardcover)
Library of Congress Card Number 2005021173
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sonne, Warren J., 1949-
Criminal investigation for the professional investigator / Warren J. Sonne.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8493-8051-8
ISBN-10: 0-8493-8051-0 (alk. paper)
1. Criminal investigation--United States. I. Title.
HV8073.S626 2006
363.25'0973--dc22 2005021173
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To Beckie
It’s been a long and happy journey.
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Preface
DEFINITION
Investigate:
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -gat·ed; -gat·ing
Etymology: Latin investigatus, past participle of investigare to track, in-
vestigate, from in- + vestigium footprint, track
transitive senses: to observe or study by close examination and systematic
inquiry*
intransitive senses: to make a systematic examination; especially : to con-
duct an official inquiry
Synonyms: bug, buzz, candle, case, check out, check over, check up,
consider, delve, dig, double O, examine, explore, eyeball, feel out,
frisk, go into, inquire, inquisite, inspect, interrogate, listen in, look
into, look over, look-see, make inquiry, muckrake, nose around, poke,
probe, prospect, pry, question, read, reconnoiter, research, review,
run down, scout, scrutinize, search, sift, slurp, spy, stake out, study,
tap, wiretap. **
What does it really mean to make “a systematic examination?” Where
does one start to learn, or go to hone one's skills within this profession? A
daunting task considering the many and varied specialties that are hidden
away within the term “investigator.” I suppose that the willing candidate
could pursue a degree in criminal justice. But wait … does this advanced
education really provide any useful or practical information on investiga-
tions? Certainly, learning about the court systems, treatment of juveniles, the
mentally ill, and recidivism rates will not hurt, but investigations? No. Per-
haps then, the candidate should pursue a Bachelor's and J.D. and then apply
to the FBI Academy. Certainly the FBI can teach everyone what he or she
needs to know about investigations, right? Close, but no! How about joining
* Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 10th Edition
** Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.1.1) Copyright © 2005 by Lexico
Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
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the NYPD? Becoming a fire marshal? Insurance SIU investigator? Computer
forensics expert? Private investigator?
Obviously, there is no one right way to become a professional investiga-
tor, nor is it possible for any one person to become expert in all of the diverse
fields that comprise the investigative community. Yet make no mistake, the
field of investigations is a profession and not a trade. To continue upon this
path, all investigators need to continually seek self-improvement through
basic and advanced training to master their particular specialty. It is equally
important that you think of yourself as a professional and to portray that
persona to others by looking, speaking, and dressing neatly and appropriately.
Professional investigators do not jump to conclusions; rather, they pursue
and confirm facts. Professional investigators are dogged in their determina-
tion and do not take short cuts. We adhere to codes of ethical and moral
behavior that exceed those of society at-large; provide justice to victims;
protect the innocent; and provided ourselves with armor against claims of
corruption or impropriety.
I write this book based upon my own experiences as a criminal investi-
gative professional with the New York City Police Department, having entered
the Narcotics Division in 1972 and retired as a homicide investigator in 1989.
My experiences at the NYPD included assignment to investigate organized
crime, terrorism, sex crimes, polygraphs, frauds, burglaries, robberies,
assaults, deaths, and homicides. I am truly thankful for the extensive training
provided to me directly or paid for by NYPD during my career, as well as to
the many highly skilled detectives who gladly guided me throughout my
career.
Yet, like me, many other professional investigators find that their careers
go through a metamorphosis. One day working for the CIA, the next for a
civilian competitive intelligence firm. FBI agents may become fraud investi-
gators for credit card companies. Police detectives may become private detec-
tives, and so on. Since retiring from the NYPD, I have founded two private
investigation companies; Pinnacle Protective Services, Inc. in New York
(www.THENYPI.com), and Sun State Investigative Services, Inc., in Florida
(www.THEFLPI.com). It is from that perspective that I am currently working
on the second book in the Professional Investigator Series, “Civil Investiga-
tions for the Professional Investigator.”
The “Professional Investigator” series is being written with the intention
of providing all present and future members of the investigative community
with the knowledge and insight to motivate them to reach the pinnacle of
their respective professions, be it criminal or civil. The series will also provide
a bridge to assist those investigators who intend to cross over from one to
the other.
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For those of you who are reading this book for academic, professional,
or personal reasons, I urge you to continue your pursuit to attain the highest
professional standing within this noble profession. We are the finders of the
facts upon whose work the truth can be found.
Warren J. Sonne