The Life of a Private Investigator!

I need a Favor - Please support House Bill 2827

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I need a favor. Many people I work with who are involved in childhood sexual abuse litigation have been pushing for an extension of the civil statute of limitations. House Bill 2827 would lengthen the current statute from 3 to 5 years. This is crucial because many times the person does not recognize the damage done to them from the abuse for many years, which results in delayed discovery.  This bill will help survivors heal and even more importantly it will help prevent child abuse. This bill is being sponsored by Rep. Andy Olson, a Republican ex-state cop from Albany.  He got the bill through the House on a 60-0 vote several months ago, but it has hit a roadblock in the Senate and he needs your help.

This bill is scheduled for a hearing Thursday May 28, at 8 am. Your calls and e-mails to your representatives prior to this date will make a difference. 

Here is what you can do to help:

1.  Contact every member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, daily starting Tuesday until the vote on Thursday morning, and ask them to support the bill. Tell them civil lawsuits help prevent child abuse because those who abuse and the institutions who enable abusers respond to civil liability

2.  Call and write Sen. Courtney's office in Salem and demand that he not let his own religious beliefs interfere with justice for child abuse survivors.  Be polite but firm!

3. Join me at 8 am Thursday morning at the State Capitol in Salem.  The more people the louder the voice. 

Here is a list of the representatives for you to contact: 

Floyd Prozanski, Chair           [email protected]             503-986-1704                

 Brian Boquist, Vice-Chair       [email protected]                503-986-1712

Suzanne Bonamici                  [email protected]       503-986-1717

Jackie Dingfelder                    [email protected]            503-986-1723

Doug Whitsett                        [email protected]                503-986-1728

Lastly, contact Rep Andy Olson and thank him for all the work he has done.  He needs our support now more than ever.  Words of encouragement will help keep his spirits up, pushing him forward with this fight.

Whether you realize it or not someone you know has been affected by childhood sexual abuse, they may never tell you but by supporting this bill you are helping so many.

Thank you,

Dawn

Memorial Day-Thank you to my Brother and all our Armed Forces!

Our country first began the tradition of Decoration Day to honor the Union soldiers following the end of the American civil war.

Today we recognize this day as Memorial Day to honor all of our American soldiers who have been a casualty of war, both past and present. We also recognize the many soldiers who still sacrifice for our Country. Men and Women who have dedicated themselves to the armed forces since our Country was formed.  Take a moment to reflect on what that sacrifice has meant for our Ccountry and for yourself. Because of those men and women we all enjoy freedoms than many others in our world do not.

This blog post is dedicated to my Brother, Brian Krantz. He proudly serves his country in the Army National Guard! Keep him in your prayers with all the other soldiers so that they return home safely.  Brian will be in IRAQ for the next year. I admire his courage and I will be praying that he comes home safely. 

Love,

You Sister, aka Inspector Watts

The Secrets a Private Eye Might Hear.

Some say I am a "secret keeper" because of my job title and that may be true or not.  People tend to be leary of private investigators because they think we are always in spy mode. So how do I disarm an interviewee--how do I get them to tell me their secrets.

That is the part of my job that is easy, I listen.  All anyone really wants to do is have someone listen to them. Listening builds trust which in turn gets people to spill a secret or two. In my business a revealed secret can make or break a case.

Last year I boldly walked up to a known pedophile's door and knocked, I have to admit I was a little scared.  This little old man answered the door and of course he invited me in, I am not very intimidating. If have ever seen my photo you know what I mean. I kept thinking, I am sitting in a pedophiles house but am I safe. For just a second I thought he could hit me over the head, put me in the basement and that would be the end of my spy days. Ok, that is a little CSI or Cold Case sounding but it did cross my mind.

I sat down petted his dog, chatted with him about the weather and suddenly he started talking. He told me things that helped the case I was working on, in ways I had not even anticipated. He shared photos valuable photos with me, gave me the names of important people who would be helpful in building the case and remembers dates the solidified my clients story.  This man had been holding on to these secrets for so long they had eaten a hole in his heart, literally. So for him having a friendly face willing to listen to his story, even the ugly parts probably gave him some peace he had not had in years which in turn I hope will give some of his victims peace as well.  

I  took the information back to the attorney I am working with and that case is Rock Solid.

Some secrets are not safe with me.

Dawn, aka Inspector Watts

Fact or Fiction

How do I know if the story or statement I take as an investigator is the truth. The fact is an investigator can not know for sure. A good investigator listen to the details that not just anyone could know, I also listen for inconsistencies but most importantly I listen to my gut.  I am always being told my job is to find the facts because the facts have nothing to do with feeling, I  strongly disagree!  Many times I have run into a dead end but my gut told me to keep digging so I did, so far that instinct has never failed me. 

How do I know if it is fact or fiction, by digging. Which means I have to do a lot of legwork to locate witnesses who will  corroborate the facts of the case or old documentation that can support the statements being made by the client and witnesses.

Whether it is civil litigation or criminal defense work you can not ignore even the smallest detail, it could mean the difference between between winning or losing and for me losing is not an option!

Dawn, aka Inspector Watts

Bloggers, fans or none of the above

I notice that everyone is blogging now days which begs the question, do people really want to read what Ihave to say in the blog world, I can not help but wonder?

I spent a good part of the last ten days on vacation with a little work mixed in for good measure.  In that time I was able to refocus my energy; energy I must say that was greatly depleted because of the work I do. So feeling completely reinvigorated here I am back at my blog wondering what my readers really want to know. Do you want to know about me, my profession, the people I meet or maybe just all of the above.

I am a PI, a Mom, a wife, an advocate for many, a student of life and a woman constantly in search of more opportunity for growth. Growth comes from life experience and experiences come to us when we least expect them. I am grateful when they do because in my mind it makes me a better and more interesting person. 

Take the time if you are reading my post today to tell me something about yourself and what you would like to read about.

I love the feedback.

Dawn, aka Inspector Watts : )

Can you get in trouble for lying--I sure hope so.

Hmmm what should happen when a witness for the prosecution lies under oath?  That happened recently in a case I am working on.  Just for clarification purposes I am working for the defense not the prosecution. I came across information that would show the main witness for the prosecution was a extremely dishonest person.  This person took their oath, got on the witness stand and lied, lied, lied!  The defense produced evidence that would cast doubt and I testified about my findings.  Ultimately, the witness admitted later that they lied under oath.  Sadly, this is a criminal matter where this person could send someone to jail.  Shouldn't someone be punished for this type of behaving

Lying under oath aka perjury is a serious crime. Martha Stewart went to jail for conspiracy to commit perjury, Barry Bonds has been indicted for perjury and former President Clinton was almost impeached for lying under oath.  Bottom line you can lie about your age all day long as long as your age is not of material importance to a legal matter but you can not lie when it involves the legal system and the outcome of a criminal or civil matter.

My Mom always told me if I lied my nose would grow lie Pinnoccio and I believed her.