PI Education and Equivocal Death Investigations - AFI-LLC Newsletter April 2019

It has been a busy month for our agency. From a high-volume case load, to successful cases we are sharing, upcoming conferences and speaking engagements, training opportunities and more - we are excited to share the latest with you!

We are also really excited about the PI Education webinar on Equivocal Death Investigation with Dean as a guest.

Finally, we are looking forward to the NCISS Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill event in Washington DC the end of this month.

Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) – Fall Academy
CDITC will be holding its fall academy in Jenson Beach, FL for a full week from 09/09 to 09/13.
The curriculum will be:
Mon & Tue - Component Method - CCDI
Wed & Thu - Forensic Science - CFSI
Friday - Serious Bodily Injury / Death Investigations - Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI
 
Attendance of all days may qualify the student to test for the CCDI (Certified Criminal Defense Investigator) and CFSI (Certified Forensic Science Investigator) designations.

Details and registration at www.DefenseInvestigator.com/cdiacademyprogram.html

LAST OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER! National Council of Investigation & Security Services
Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill Event - Washington DC - from April 29th to May 1st!
This will be the most important Hit the Hill event in over a decade - as members volunteer from across the nation meet in Washington DC for the specific purpose of one-on-one appointments with the offices of our Senators and Representatives.  
Schedule Summary:
> Arrival - Sunday April 28th
> Monday April 29th - Board Meeting, Annual Meeting, Elections, and Networking
> Tuesday April 30th - HTH Appointments, and Networking
> Wednesday May 1st - Training Seminars, President Award Luncheon, and New Board Meeting
  
In addition, this 3-day event is the NCISS Annual Meeting, including Awards and Elections, and also an additional day of training seminars. 
 
NCISS gives a special thanks to the following members, volunteering their time and expertise to give the following training seminars!

Wednesday 05/01 Speakers:
> Tim Dimoff (SACS Consulting and Investigative Services - Akron OH)
Current and Future Trends of Aggression, Active Shooter and Terrorism - Prevent and Mitigate Aggressive Behavior
> Jim Nanos (PI Magazine / Apple Investigations - Wildwood NJ)
Current and Advanced Trends in Surveillance
> Rich Robertson, CLI (R3 Investigations - Tempe AZ)
Mass Data Analysis - Understanding State and Federal Laws
> Sheila Wysocki (Without Warning Private Investigation - Brentwood TN)
Trolling for Clues: How Digital and Social Networking Have Changed the Investigation Landscape
>US Courts Defender Services and Panel Investigators - Criminal Justice Act
Attorney Advisors from the Legal and Policy Division for Defender Services will tell how Private Investigators can get on the federal defender 'Panel Investigators' list as independent subcontractors with private 'Panel Attorneys'.

Details in the information packet - visit www.NCISS.org for registration and information.
PPIAC is excited to present "The Colorado Investigative Development Institute" (CIDI)!
Over 18 hours of Instruction by some of the most reputable investigators in Colorado. Networking, resources and valuable tips on starting your career as a Private Investigator.

Presented over three consecutive Saturdays in May.
Dates: May 11th, May 18th & May 25th
Time: 8 am to 5 pm each day
Location: Hilton Inverness - 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO.
Free parking, lunch and snacks provided, resources and handbook included.
PPIAC and PSACO members - $450 for all three days.
Non-Members - $595 for all three days.

Go to ppiac.org for registration, class schedule, topics and trainers www.ppiac.org/event-3266664
Email training@ppiac.org with any questions.

NEW Monthly Commentary:
Webinar - PI Education and Equivocal Death Investigations

It has long been a great honor and privilege to have developed our Equivocal Death Investigations / Death Investigation for Private Investigators distance learning course exclusively for PI Education for nearly a decade!
 
This month, Dean was a featured guest for the monthly PI Education webinar, hosted by friend and colleague, Hal Humphreys. Hal is not only the proprietor of PI Education, he is also for Pursuit Magazine - and more important, he is a fellow working licensed professional investigator of over 30 years - Find Investigations - and Certified Fraud Examiner.
 
-- for the link to the webinar, and this full commentary, please visit -
www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/pi-education-webinar-and-equivocal-death-investigations

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Agency Information and Principal CVs and Expert Consultations (national)
Current information on our primary agency website for services, forms, and CVs.
-- About Us -  www.DeathCaseReview.com/about-us.html
-- Our Services - www.DeathCaseReview.com/our-services.html
-- Dean's CV - http://dab-cv.DeathCaseReview.com
-- Karen's CV - http://ksb-cv.DeathCaseReview.com

Karen provides Subject Matter Expertise on all Equivocal Deaths, and Dean has provided expert consultations nationwide since 2010. He has been recognized by Colorado courts in Forensic and Medicolegal Death Investigations generally in "the totality of the circumstances of the fatal or non-fatal event and the competency of the official investigation, with respect to death investigation protocol and standards."

Specific non-medical testimony has included as an expert in the areas of:

• Injury, wound before morphology, how wounds are created, mechanics of single edged instruments, bilateral edged instruments, and mechanics of puncture wounds.
• Expert in criminal and forensic investigations, including death investigation and protocol standards as well as related death investigation and injury causation; and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.
• Patterned Injury Analysis
• Private Investigation Protocols
• Background Records and Investigations

Dean has been appointed in Colorado, Wyoming, Louisiana, Arizona and California in these areas and as an expert in medicolegal / death investigations. In addition, Dean and Karen have provided private attorney and family consultations in multiple states.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
-- Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) - Fall Academy
-- NCISS Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill Event
-- PPIAC presents "The Colorado Investigative Development Institute" (CIDI)
-- New Commentary: Webinar - PI Education and Equivocal Death Investigations
-- Agency Information and Principal CVs
-- Commentary from the blog archives of AFI-LLC
  - Autopsy Options in Civil and Criminal Litigation
  - Fact Finding Investigations - Prepare
  - Fact Finding Investigations - Inquire
  - Fact Finding Investigations - Analyze
-- Book Available – ‘Death and Serious Bodily Injury Investigation for the Professional Investigator’
-- Case Studies from AFI-LLC
  - Dismissal of Homicide charges - because the death was a suicide!
  - Colorado Investigative News Reporter exposes an autopsy fraud
  - US Supreme Court decision to criminal defendant right to counsel
-- Top Tip of 2019 For Our PI Colleagues!
-- Expert Affiliations
-- Tidbits From Our Profession – Association Conferences and Events
-- Associations and News
-- News From Our Profession
  - US Judge Rules – Feds Can’t Force You To Unlock Your Phone
  - US Supreme Court – Unanimous Decision Limiting Law Enforcement Seizures
  - Training Opportunities - donated by our agency
  - NEW LawMate / Aishine Covert Cameras – save additional 10% in March!
-- Legislative News You Can Use... from NCISS
  - Hit the Hill Event
  - Your Advocate for March 2019
  - Privacy Special Report
  - NEW 1st Quarter Member Directory and Member Guide
-- The Quint-Essential Qualities of a Professional Investigator
-- IN CLOSING...

Associates in Forensic Investigations LLC
Rocky Mountain West Agency owned by
Dean A. Beers, CLI CCDI CFI-FTER and Karen S. Beers, BSW CCDI CFI-FTER

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 Death and Serious Bodily Injury.



Based in the Rocky Mountain West, we provide expert consultations nationally. Learn details at www.DeathCaseReview.com

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Commentary from the blog archives of AFI-LLC
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.

Autopsy Options in Civil and Criminal Litigation (09/03/2018)
We are often contacted for advice on having an autopsy performed, finding a forensic pathologist, or having our agency and/or forensic pathologist conduct a review of records, reports and photographs in a criminal or civil case for pre- and active litigation. Many find it interesting the options available to them – or not available. The first question to ask is – is the body available for autopsy; and the second is – was an autopsy performed? The only thing that prevents an autopsy is cremation. An autopsy can be performed on an embalmed body, including exhumed weeks to years - even decades - later.  Embalming does present issues; however, these are addressed by the forensic pathologist.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/autopsy-options-in-civil-and-criminal-litigation
 
Fact Finding Investigations - Prepare (09/30/2018)
One of the most important and core tasks of investigators – from law enforcement to private, in civil and criminal litigation – is the witness interview. Witnesses can be victims or accusers, clients or defendants, those present at an event, and those not present who have information (hearsay). Generally, there are two sides to each witness – their own, and another’s; and the truth is the area between – which can lean more towards one person or another. It is the investigator’s duty – and skill – to assess the witness and fully inform their client (attorney, prosecutor, etc.) of the witness provided details. It is further important to empirically compare and contrast all details reported by witnesses, and also to other independent facts. Together these begin to tell the story, and determine the credibility of persons involved – including other investigators.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/personal-morals-and-professional-ethics
 
Fact Finding Investigations - Inquire (11/04/2018)
All professional investigations – from law enforcement to private, and from surveillance to criminal investigations (defense or prosecution) – have core skill sets:
- Research
- Interviews
- Report writing
 
One common example is locating individuals – which requires all three. If you can conduct individual locates, you can conduct background investigations. If you can do both of those, you can do assets and liabilities investigations. These are not only important skill sets, they are fundamental skill sets – which give the ability to conduct basic and fundamental investigations.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/fact-finding-investigations-inquire
 
Fact Finding Investigations - Analyze (12/01/2018)
The Analyze stage of this Investigative protocol follows a series of important organizational planning steps.  It is where the rubber meets the road - the investigation and case gain traction.  The legal investigator has gathered information and determined the factual evidence versus the information provided only in the disclosure and discovery; and processes of law enforcement, government, and business or insurance investigators.  This Analyze stage is both a subjective and objective reasoning exercise completed within each assignment, then assignment to assignment or task to task – scene to scene and witness to witness, and so forth until the case is completed.  For this reason, it is important to organize the investigation into these individual assignments and stages.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/fact-finding-investigations-analyze

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Expert Forensic Consultant Affiliations
We believe that medicolegal investigation and consultation is a team effort.  Stephen Cina MD and Harold Schueler PhD are our agency affiliated experts in our respective fields offering our clients comprehensive medicolegal services.

Dr. Cina, has returned to being based in Colorado, is the former Chief Medical Examiner of Cook County IL. and now provides contract and independent forensic autopsies and consultations. We trained under, and worked with Dr. Cina, since our positions as Deputy Coroners.

Dr. Schueler is now a profession at mid-Atlantic university, and is the former Chief Forensic Toxicologist of a large mid-Atlantic metropolitan area.
 
We are proud of our working relationship with Dr. Cina, since 2002 and Dr. Schueler since 2010. 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 
 
Through our colleagues, we also offer direct referrals from our Affiliated Experts Referral Program! Each are available nationally.

• Forensic Nursing
• ​Forensic Photography
• ​Digital Forensics - Cell Phones
• Digital Forensics - Computers
• ​Digital Forensics - GPS / Vehicles
• ​Forensic Debugging / Technical Surveillance Countermeasures
• Use of Force

Contact our office for more details and direct referrals!

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Professional Locate Investigations:
Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities
by Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI

You will learn basic and new skills and techniques to increase your success and profits (including Bonus Articles), and even lower your cost-per-case.

• New skills in locate and background resources
• New skills in locating records from those resources
• New skills in locating information from those records
• New skills in conducting locate investigations, and background checks &investigations

For book and ordering details visit - www.ProfessionalLocateInvestigations.com

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Case Studies from AFI-LLC
www.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html
We are often asked about the types of traumatic injury and death cases we review - from family equivocal deaths to civil and criminal cases for attorneys and investigators. Each month we will present two previous cases - of hundreds - with a variety of circumstances, evidence, and conclusions.

Individual Background and Assets & Liabilities lead to over $500K fraud recovery! (Legal Investigation)
One of our Probate / Public Administrator clients was appointed by the Court to protect the interests of an elderly gentleman suspected of being victimized by a live-in caretaker. The caretaker had official documents of real property and water rights transfers (the latter being very valuable in the Colorado agricultural county), as well as bank accounts and other assets. In addition, she was identifying herself as his spouse.
 
The client provided personal identifying information, family members, and former names, as well as states suspected of having other personal and business interests. First conducting an address history, we identified multiple states to research. In the course of the research, we found two states with real property and business interests, as well as an existing marriage already suspected. We also found transactions transferring real property from joint ownership to only her husband in her primary state. This was dated the same day she received a real property transfer from the client’s protected person to her.
 
At a hearing, the subject was questioned under oath and several facts of our multi-page report and over 50 pages of primary source documentation was presented (note – database information is not acceptable in courts, nor are they wholly reliable). Following a few hours of testimony, the judge had additional questions and held the hearing over to the next day. Under further questioning and testimony, the subject was advised of the consequences for perjury and an immediate settlement conference between the parties ordered.
 
It was agreed to return all titles and claims to the client, as well as all available monies and assets. This included voluntary return of funds, transferred as gifts, to the subject’s children. Unfortunately, there remains in excess of $100,000 unaccounted for.
 
Dismissal of Homicide charges - because the death was a suicide! (Expert Consultation)
Our agency was retained to provide expert case review and consultation for an indigent homicide criminal defense, the charges included 1st Degree Homicide. The decedent lived alone and was found on his bedroom floor with multiple stab and slashing wounds to the neck. The decedent was found by siblings, who had to remove a front door window pane to unlock and enter the apartment.
 
The findings from the forensic autopsy were Cause of Death by the multiple stab and incised wounds to the neck, including several ‘hesitation’ marks consistent with the decedent’s dominant hand usage. The toxicology was negative. The Manner of Death was Undetermined, as there was evidence of Homicide or Suicide and insufficient findings for either.
 
There were serious issues with the investigation and evidence - which supported suicide, and no other involved persons or any assault. Other than the bedroom, no blood was found in the apartment – and the bloodspatter evidence showed no other persons were near or approximate to the decedent at the time of his death. After the scene was released, the decedent’s siblings were allowed into the apartment. At a later time, they turned a purse into a small town marshall several miles from the small city police department they knew was investigating the death. Inside the purse, identified as the defendant’s was found a hair brush – with hair and blood. Testing showed the blood DNA was the decedent’s, and the hair DNA was the defendant’s. This was the only evidence connecting the scene, decedent, and defendant. The knife, on the bed, had only blood and DNA from the decedent.
 
The defendant was contacted and stated she had been with the decedent for about a week and had stolen the car, then abandoned it on a highway after running out of gas. She had told the decedent she was going to the liquor store and never returned – and did not take her purse, only her two cell phones. The cell phone tracking supported the defendant’s statements of activities before, during, and after being with the defendant. The Manner of Death had been changed to Homicide, additional suspects were also questioned and cleared; the defendant was arrested and charged.
 
The law enforcement investigation also found the decedent had a history of alcohol and other drug abuse, and had been hospitalized just days before – and historically – for suicidal ideations. Following the last discharge, the decedent had also made hallucinatory 911 calls of people outside the apartment and making active threats.
 
About one year following arrest, the trial was scheduled to start in late March. One week before trial, the prosecutor quietly filed a motion to dismiss – without even telling the defense attorneys.  This dismissal was a result of the defense providing our findings, and the prosecution's interview of another defense expert – this death was a suicide, and not a homicide.
 
We know and respect the other expert well; however, we did not know of their involvement - as we are never told about other consulting experts. In sharing the news of the dismissal, our clients told us how important and appreciated it was for them to tell them the truth - good and bad - and, although unknown to each other, reached the same conclusions.
 
There are several nuances to this (evidence, chain of custody, etc.), which would have been raised at trial. Most important, this death was not a homicide - and that's why it was finally dismissed. It is one potentially wrongful conviction which did not happen. We simply do not see that very often.

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Top Tip of 2019 for our PI Colleagues...
If you need to find assistance outside of your area, here are steps to take to find a vetted and reliable professional:
1. Don't throw your request for assistance out to unvetted groups in social media or generic listserves. Why trust your business and your client to the unknown? Its bad business. Sure, they're free - but you get what you pay for.
2. Reach out to someone you know and trust in the area.
3. Reach out to the state or specialty association - join them.
4. Reach out to a national association - NCISS and NALI vet their membership to be in compliance with licensing and ethics - join them.
5. If international, reach out to WAD (they also vet their membership to be in compliance with licensing and ethics) - join them.
6. Vet your decision, including through your associations network.
 
Its your reputation. We give preference to professionals supporting our profession and holding membership in their state associations, NCISS, NALI and WAD, and specialty associations such as CDITC - many of which are cross members - join them. Through our memberships we have a trusted network of thousands in almost every state and almost 100 countries. We have a very personal network of over 2000 PIs we personally know and trust. That happened through our interactions in associations who support and grow our profession.

Don't just join - be active! We are involved in every association we belong to - not just as members, but from committees to the board, and Karen is the Administrative Manager or Executive Director of two.

It comes with a cost - so does bad decisions. Here some of our memberships and recommendations, and members of these associations get preference for direct referrals - www.DeathCaseReview.com/Associations.

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Tidbits From Our Profession
Do you have news of your associations and members to share? Please let us know!

ASSOCIATION CONFERENCES
An association events calendar and information is at www.nciss.org/event-calendar




National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS)
Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill
04/29 to 05/01 – Washington DC
Details at www.nciss.org

Arrival - Sunday April 28th
Monday April 29th - Board Meeting, Annual Meeting, Elections, and Networking
Tuesday April 30th - HTH Appointments, and Networking
Wednesday May 1st - Training Seminars, President Award Luncheon, and New Board Meeting
(details in the information packet)

The venue is the Capital Skyline Hotel. There is no room attrition - the rate is $239 per night, with days available before and after the event. There is a download link for a PDF packet of all the information at www.nciss.org/registration-hth - here you will register online or in the packet.

Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) Annual Conference
05/02-05/04 – Orlando FL
Details at www.FALI.org

California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) Annual Conference
05/30-06/01 – Las Vegas NV
Details at www.cali-pi.org

National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) Annual Conference
07/18-07/19 - Philadelphia PA
Details at www.NALI.com

Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC) Annual Conference
07/24-07/26 – Colorado Springs CO
Details at www.PPIAC.org

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Associations and News
We are dedicated ambassadors to our profession and work within several associations with others to continually protect and improve our profession and resources, as well as networking and continuing education opportunities.

Professional Private investigations Association of Colorado (www.PPIAC.org) Monthly meetings, including a training speaker, are the first Wednesday of each month, usually in the Denver metro area.  PPIAC continues to hold specialized training sessions for new and veteran investigators, and also specific to the new licensing program.

We are excited to share this upcoming training program for all Rocky Mountain region investigators... DO NOT miss this opportunity!

Hosted by the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado, we are pleased to also participate in providing some of the seminars.

PPIAC is excited to present "The Colorado Investigative Development Institute" (CIDI)!
Over 18 hours of Instruction by some of the most reputable investigators in Colorado. Networking, resources and valuable tips on starting your career as a Private Investigator.

Presented over three consecutive Saturdays in May.
Dates: May 11th, May 18th & May 25th
Time: 8 am to 5 pm each day
Location: Hilton Inverness - 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO.
Free parking, lunch and snacks provided, resources and handbook included.
PPIAC and PSACO members - $450 for all three days.
Non-Members - $595 for all three days.

Go to ppiac.org for registration https://www.ppiac.org/event-3266664
Class schedule, topics and trainers coming soon. Email training@ppiac.org with any questions.

PPIAC has also announced their annual conference has moved from the fall to early summer to honor Private Investigators Day on July 24th. The event will begin with a pre-conference full day of OSINT with Cynthia Hetherington (separate registration and fee) on 07/24, followed by two days of seminar speakers and topics attendees have come to expect and commend of PPIAC - 07/25 to 07/26. Block your calendars now. The venue will be in beautiful Colorado Springs - a destination to plan a couple extra days of vacation!

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.

Legal Investigators working cases for civil plaintiff or criminal defense - join the National Association of Legal Investigators! (http://nalionline.org/become-a-member - please contact our office and use us as a reference on the application)
 
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)
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.

Karen is the NCISS Executive Director, and and oversees the day-to-day operations of the association and members, working closing with the Executive Committee and Board to advocate for the investigative and security professions. 

The current issue of NCISS's official journal - Your Advocate - is available online at www.nciss.org/your-advocate
Special news and alerts are at www.nciss.org/important-nciss-news

World Association of Detectives (www.WAD.net) 
W.A.D. is a global alliance of investigators and security professionals with origins dating back to 1921 and formalized in 1925.  W.A.D. is the longest established and largest association of its kind in the world.

Karen is the W.A.D. Administrative Manager, and Dean is the Governor of the Americas (North, Central and South America).  Together we work to further the mission of W.A.D. and provide resources to clients needing assistance in these regions. 

The current issue of WAD's official newsletter - Beyond Global - is available online at www.wad.net/newsletters-beyond-global
 
Additional memberships include FALI, TALI and CALI state associations, as well as specialty specific national associations (see right sidebar). If your association has news, please send it to us for inclusion in our newsletter.

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News From Our Profession
Dismissal of Homicide charges - because the death was a suicide!
We have been working on a 1st Degree Homicide defense for nearly a year. There were serious issues with the investigation and evidence - which supported suicide, and no other involved persons or any assault.

The trial was scheduled to start Monday and was dismissed by a quiet filing today - didn't even tell the defense attorneys.  It was not until our memo, and the prosecution's interview of another defense expert was it seen to not be homicide.
 
We know and respect the other expert well; however, we did not know of their involvement - as we are never told about other consulting experts). As we were told, the defense appreciated experts who told them the truth - good and bad - and, although unknown to each other, reached the same conclusions.
 
There are several nuances to this (evidence, chain of custody, etc.), which would have been raised at trial. Most important, it was not a homicide - and that's why it was finally dismissed.
-- see our Case Studies at www.DeathCasereview.com/case-samples.html for more details
 
Colorado Investigative News Reporter exposes an autopsy fraud
(Brian Maas - KCNC Channel 4 Denver)
Shawn Parcells, owner of an autopsy service that was spotlighted in a 2018 CBS4 investigation, has been arrested by authorities in Kansas and charged with theft and criminal desecration. Parcells surrendered Friday morning at the Wabunsee County Sheriffs Office in Kansas, according to a local news report.
-- follow the story at https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/03/22/shawn-parcells-owner-national-autopsy-services-theft-desecrating-bodies/

US Supreme Court - Criminal Defendant Right to Counsel - dissenting opinion raises concerns
(shared by Bill Elliott, CLI - Elliott & Associates of NM)
Recently, in Garza v. Idaho, Justices Thomas and Gorsuch argue that appointed counsel should not be constitutional requirements. Complaining about the burden on the taxpayers of providing counsel.

"In addition to breaking from this Court's precedent, today's decision moves the Court another step further from the original meaning of the Sixth Amendment. The Sixth Amendment provides that, "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence." That provision "as originally understood and ratified meant only that a defendant had a right to employ counsel, or to use volunteered services of counsel." Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U. S. 356, 389 (2010) (Scalia, J., dissenting). Yet, the Court has read the Constitution to require not only a right to counsel at taxpayers' expense, but a right to effective counsel."
-- read the opinion, including this dissenting opinion (page 12) at www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-1026_2c83.pdf

Your next My007Spy purchase may help NCISS
Starting last month, My007Spy is offering a new discount code. Professional investigators will still save 10%. Now 5% of their purchase will be donated to NCISS by My007Spy!! We are strong supporters and believers in NCISS - National Council of Investigation & Security Services. If you use the below discount, for every order - it never expires - we will donate 5% to NCISS. Its a small amount, but adds up each month.
NCISS-Save10%-Donate5%

Don't forget - if you are not a member of NCISS, the reason you can use covert PI gear is because NCISS works daily to protect the interests of all PIs and security agencies nationwide. Visit www.nciss.org/join-nciss or contact us by email for more information.

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Legislative News You Can Use... from NCISS
Your NCISS Board has been hard at work over the last few months including over the holiday season.  This upcoming year is going to be a tough year in Congress for our professions (investigators, security agencies, and process servers). 
 
The new Congress, just sworn in on January 3rd, is already proving to be a significant challenge to investigators, security agencies, and process servers in 2019. Here is an update on the activity and outlook to date - https://conta.cc/2S1CyC8. 

ANNUAL MEETING AND HIT THE HILL EVENT
This will be the most important Hit the Hill event in recent years - over a decade - as members volunteer from across the nation meet in Washington DC for the specific purpose of one-on-one appointments with the offices of our Senators and Representatives. In addition, this 3-day event is the NCISS Annual Meeting, including Awards and Elections, and also day of training seminars presented by members who are experts in their fields - also volunteering their time and expenses.

For registration and details, please visit www.NCISS.org

YOUR ADVOCATE
Welcome to Your Advocate digital magazine for NCISS members!
2019 Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill Event, Legislative Update and Member News -
Visit https://conta.cc/2FoTmiS for details.

In this Spring / March 2019 Annual Meeting / Hit the Hill Event special issue:
- From the President
- From the Vice Presidents
- Nominations for 2019 Elections
- New Members
- Lobbyit Legislative Activity
- Member Referral Program
- HTH Information Packet
  -- Why is HTH Important
  -- Making Your Appointments
  -- Registration
  -- Legislation & Regulations
  -- NCISS History of Success
  -- Investigations & Data Value
- NCISS Store
- Member News and Updates
- NCISS Website Navigation
- Member Benefits
- Who is NCISS – Member Directory Update
- Member Savings Benefit

PRIVACY SPECIAL REPORT
As an Investigator, Security Agency, Process Server, or related professional… have you benefited from:

• Having access to driving records and motor vehicle information from your state DMV and private data providers?
• Having access to databases with permissible purposes under the GLBA?
• Having access to Social Security Numbers, Birthdates, Address History and other important information, including credit reports?
• Carry a firearm in the course of your professional duties?
• Having the ability to use a pretext for undercover operations, shopping services and other permissible purposes?
• Used the National Sex Offender Registry (Dru’s Law) for background investigations?
• Used GPS, drones and other modern technology in your investigations and security services?

If you answered YES to just one of these questions, you have directly benefitted from the more than 40-year history of NCISS, volunteers, and support of NCISS every member. NCISS and membership have provided responsive testimony to Congress and federal regulators, as well as assisting state associations with similar issues at the state level.
 
How? Download and share this important Special Report from NCISS at https://conta.cc/2Fw1cYo!
 
If you wonder what NCISS does for you, view NCISS as your insurance policy. You don’t make claims every day. When the big claim comes, and the upcoming privacy fight is that “claim,” you will want NCISS protecting you at every turn.

Please share with your colleagues - 2019 is going to be a challenging year for all of us.

NEW 1ST QUARTER MEMBER DIRECTORY AND MEMBER GUIDE
This year's 1st quarter digital Member Directory and Member Guide was published online and information sent via Constant Contact. Details of the announcement are at https://conta.cc/2DQ68Fa.

In this Directory and Guide:
- Getting Started
- NCISS Website Navigation and Member Profile page
- Member Login, Member Profile Settings, Dues Renewal
 
- USA Members
- Alphabetical by Last Name with full contact information
- International Members
- Alphabetical by Last Name with full contact information
- USA Members
- By State and Last Name with Agency, City & State
- Supporting Associations
- Alphabetical by State
 
- NCISS Member Guide
- NCISS Member Benefits and Savings
- Investigations and Value of Data Access
- About NCISS
- History of NCISS
- NCISS Board Members
- NCISS Member Ethics and Mission
- NCISS Awards
- NCISS Successes
- NCISS Bylaws
 
Inside you will find an updated Directory, as of January 31st 2019, for the 1st Quarter. This Directory will be updated each quarter. This Directory is also interactive with active links for email and domain addresses, as well as graphics to their sites.

PS - be sure to check past issues of the Your Advocate digital magazine at www.nciss.org/Your-Advocate

To stay current, please visit www.nciss.org/Important-NCISS-News

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Join Now! www.nciss.org/Join-NCISS
Renew Your Dues Now! www.nciss.org/Renew-Here

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 and CCDI programs both require 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.

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