Page 141 - 2021 Detective Startup Training CIDI

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Use first and last name of investigator in the first line entry (Example: Investigator Sam
Spade departed for his destination) and do this EVERY DAY of the investigation so the
client has a clear understanding of which investigator worked the case on any given day.
However, some may opt to use something other than the investigator’s actual name, such
as “Investigator #0002”. Be sure to note your beginning mileage and ending mileage for
the day in a personal log, paper or recorder so at the end of the day you can indicate the
total mileage for that day at the bottom of each day’s report.

Upon arrival of the location, give the full address on the first entry of EVERY DAY,
where the surveillance is initiated. Also, detail (Color, Make, Model and license plate by
state of issue and license number) all vehicles observed that are believed to be associated
with the residence and/or subject, on this INITIAL ENTRY FOR EVERY DAY of
surveillance. Subsequent entries throughout the day can just read (for example): The
subject departed in the Nissan Murano or red Nissan Murano, etc. With regard to the
location, subsequent entries on the same day can just read “The subject returned to
his/her residence” without detailing the address that was documented at the beginning of
the day. HOWEVER, any locations the subject travels to should have actual address, ie
“The subject entered the drive thru of Arby’s at 456 Main Street, Anytown, Colorado.”
Or if you are unable to get the exact address while there, note the location, ie southeast
corner of Main Street and Maple, and/or maybe later research the actual address to list in
the report.

You will note that the first time observing the person believed to be the subject it should
be noted as such, “A female matching the physical description of the subject and
therefore assumed to be the subject of this investigation, came out to the Murano and
departed.” All subsequent entries can just list the person as the subject.

An integrity shot is required every hour. This should be approximately 10 seconds and
this does NOT have to be an entry line in the written report. The entry lines in the report
should only reflect when there IS activity.

During any activity that has video, note it at the end of the line in this manner (Video).
THE TIMESTAMP ON THE VIDEO MUST MATCH THE ENTRY LINE OF THE
REPORT.

As you will see in the sample report below, we use third person past tense for our reports.
We round the hours at the end of the day to the nearest quarter hour.

With regard to a subject’s physical movements and/or limitations on insurance cases,
document everything via video and in the report. If the subject appears to favor
something, or appears injured, document it and NEVER stop the camera because the
subject appears injured. However, if the subject does not appear to have any movement
problems, you can use the following statement from time to time in the report: The
subject showed no signs of pain, discomfort or restriction of movement.

Anybody with the subject should be referred to as a female, or male companion unless
you are 100% sure of their relationship to the subject. Other terminology could be the
male child, female child, infant, etc.