Montauk PI
Growing Demand for Private Investigators and Security Servcies on Long Island

On Long Island, the retention of a Private Investigator or a security firm to resolve a sensitive matter for an individual or business has become a common practice. Today in the 21st century, the need for enhanced protection beyond what the government can provide has caused the industry of private investigations, guard services and business continuity managers to soar. Illegal activity or factual information that needs to be accessed in a discreet manner has increased the demand for private investigative and security services. According to Rory McMahon (2007), the author of the Practical Handbook for Professional Investigators, “Today’s Professional Investigators must learn to think of him or herself as a highly sophisticated camera with the lens always open, recording and observing everything. Further, regardless of the case, the investigator wants answers to the questions “who,” what,” “when,” “where,” “how,” and “why,” since the investigator is the last hope for many people. McMahon further contents that an investigator is a professional researcher who uses observation, inquiry, examination, and experimentation to obtain evidence and factual information based upon sound decisions that can be made.

The inclusion of physical security applications and the use of security personnel layering  will enhance the security posture of an organization or business entity. In the Hamptons, prominent homeowners have sought to install comprehensive home security systems with or without guard service to monitor their property remotely from their business, primary home or overseas. Remote monitoring and the inclusion of physical security measures (locks, gates, alarms, lighting, etc.) will provide a more comprehensive systems approach. In addition, homeowners utilize the services of security personnel to monitory their homes.  

In New York State private investigators are licensed to perform both investigations, guard security services and can serve as bail bondsman. These services may require personnel to be armed, unformed or discrete. The designation and licensure are issued by the New York Department of State. All private and security firms are required to be licensed and bonded before being afforded the designation to operate in NYS. Therefore, it is imperative that those who seek these types of services ensure that they retain firms that have the knowledge, experience and have passed the rigorous background checks necessary for licensure by the New York State Department.

Many security firms and proprietary security departments practice the “detect, deter, observe and report methodology. While private investigators and security officers cannot make arrests, they do have the authority to make a citizen’s arrest under certain conditions, they often act as an agent of law enforcement for the police, attorneys and at (civil and criminal) court actions. Private security personnel (uniform, armed, undercover, mobile, and marked vehicle patrols) are also in high demand. In addition to detecting, observing and reporting, they are may also be tasked with the prevention, deterrence and detection of crimes including personal guard protection and the application of physical security measures.
 

The global explosion of computer dependency and cyber-threats has also created the need for cyber-security protection to identify vulnerabilities and the need of establishing a risk management system specifically developed for an entity to protect against threats. These threats may be manmade, accident or natural disasters such as hurricanes. They may also include, ascertaining asset misappropriations, theft protection and often not detected insider threats, thefts and even internal terrorism. In the long run, the fact is that after a disaster strikes, regardless of the cause, business owners are left to pick up the pieces and their survivability is reliant on the business continuity disaster recovery plans they have in place. Establishing a business continuity plan during a crisis is futile. Business continuity or disaster recovery plans must be developed, implemented and tested before a disaster strikes. A recent research study indicated that 87% of small and medium size business are not equipped to sustain a major disruption or crisis and the likelihood of recovery is minimal.

In general, a Private Investigator also known as a P.I. is a person privately hired to discretely seek factual information or provide a security service for a client. The client may be person, business, organization, defense attorney, or even a governmental entity that needs external assistance. A Private Investigator may be retained to obtain information regarding the identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, reputation, or character of any person or group of persons.  Private Investigators may also be retained for the service of legal process, bail bondsman, malpractice defense, employment investigations, homicide, suicide, missing persons. In addition, they may be retained to seek information on a civil or criminal matter, conduct background checks, assets identification, cyber-security protection, manage risks or provide personal security service for a client.

A Private Investigator may also be retained to conduct investigations regarding the credibility of witnesses, the whereabouts of missing persons, the location of missing persons, the location or recovery of lost or stolen property. The legal system has created the need and expansion of private investigations in American lawsuits as gatherers of information for civil or criminal matters, especially in divorce and child custody cases. Additionally, private law firms and citizens may retain a Private Investigator to assist in investigative matters that may aid in the defense at criminal and civil actions.

The growing increase of fraudulent acts in the U.S. has also led many businesses owners to retain Private Investigators and security personnel to examine the state of their business affairs. The tragic end results of the Bernie Madoff scandal along with the mortgage fraud crisis facing America has also driven people to turn to Private Investigators to examine their records, business operations, and assist in securing their assets and personal affairs. As part of the investigative process, private investigators are also called upon to discretely perform computer investigations through the use of advanced technology which may lead to evidence of illegality.

Unlike governmental entities that may lack the work force and time, Private Investigators fill the gap by providing personal services to a client who wishes to discreetly uncover sensitive information. In addition, they can assist their clients in providing personnel security solutions and planning of their homes, businesses and at social events. According to the Congressional Budget Office (2009), “Private producers of goods and services generally will benefit from safe operating practices (including physical security) and the purchase of insurance to help limit any financial losses.” In today’s tumultuous world, personal security is a major concern across many business entities. As the result of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the private security field has undergone drastic and numerous changes in an effort of ensuring safety of the American citizens.  Legal and insurance security mandates to protect personnel, businesses and their assets have contributed to the explosive demand. 

According to Regina Holecek, Chairperson of the Long Island Chapter of ASIS,  “In a post-911 world, New Yorkers everywhere must acknowledge that our law enforcement professions can no longer  bare the burden of keeping us safe. As citizens we must prepare and actively participate in initiatives to secure ourselves, one home, one business, one school and one community at a time. Security is no longer represented by the antediluvian picture of the “Old night watchman.’ Security has become multifaceted and ever changing, encompassing a wide array of concerns from cyber-security, physical security, investigations, identify theft, fraud examinations to name a few. As security professionals, the members of ASIS Long Island Chapter provides our communities with a “total solutions” approach to their security concerns. This is evidenced by the development of security based private partnerships and programs such as SPIN and SCAN. We join with the expertise of security professionals, law enforcement, first responders and community leaders to create a more informed security posture in Long Island, N.Y.  We have now embraced developing partnerships between the public and private industries across the entire spectrum of the security industry.”

Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the need and desire to increase security has exponentially grown. Private security, business continuity organizations along with leading international organizations in security management have formed partnerships across the globe. We now live in a world where legislative and insurance mandates require security professionals to protect their businesses, employees, and their suppliers. The future of physical and private security, business continuity and disaster recovery management across the entire industry of business resiliency will continue to collaboratively grow well into the 22nd century.