Myths Vs. Reality: A Private Detective’s Life
When the majority of us hear the term “private investigator,” we immediately envision the iconic Hollywood private detective dressed in a black trench coat and smoking a cigarette out of his mouth. He usually has a Scotch, brandy, or something on the rocks in a short glass. He is a stoic and slightly disheveled rebel. He is someone who possesses all of the astute investigative abilities of the finest police detective but none of the decency. He would be out of place in a well-organized police force.
While the image of the investigator is ingrained in our collective memory, it is a far cry from the reality of private investigators. Numerous myths have been reinforced by every fictional private eye since Sherlock Holmes. Those considering a career as a private investigator or working with one may be interested in learning which of those film myths are true and which are busted.
Myth 1: All private investigators are men.
Reality: No. Women are, of course, private investigators. According to PI Magazine, approximately 15% of the approximately 60,000 licensed real-life private investigators in the United States are female. The numbers have been steadily increasing in recent years.
Myth 2: Investigators are rebels who have little regard for propriety. They are outsiders, tough guys like Phillip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and Mike Hammer, who don’t mince their words and tell it straight. Their personalities are abrasive, and people dislike them despite their mysterious respect.
Reality: A private investigator’s job requires him or her to be likable and respectable. A private investigator must be able to ask questions and obtain answers. While the job frequently requires stereotypical detective work such as surveillance, it also requires a strong interview and interpersonal skills. Private investigators must be able to elicit the truth from the subjects they are investigating. The ability to relate to them and ask the appropriate questions frequently requires more finesse than aggression.
Myth 3: Private investigators can perform all of the functions of a cop without the burdensome restrictions and red tape that police must deal with.
Reality: While private investigators, depending on the case, may not have to worry about the admissibility of evidence obtained in court, they are required to follow the law. In most states, they cannot legally impersonate an air conditioning repairman, they cannot break into people’s homes to snoop, and they cannot tap phone lines. Retaining someone against their will for questioning would be considered felony kidnapping in the majority of states. Detective licenses are required in Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.
Myth 4: Detectives are lonesome men who sit at their desks in smoky home offices, waiting for a busty blonde to walk through the door and request their assistance in investigating a steamy murder.
Reality: To begin with, many private investigators work for detective firms, in swanky offices with suits and a call center. Second, even independent private detectives perform more mundane tasks. Employers and apartment complexes are subjected to background checks. They scrutinize legal documents and assist attorneys with civil and criminal cases. They conduct premarital screenings and conduct infidelity investigations, as well as insurance claims and child custody cases. The private investigator’s work is diverse and varied. However, it rarely entails high-speed chases and gunfights.
Myth 5: A private investigator’s work is rewarding, interesting, and independent.
Reality: Private investigators must be receptive to new information and research, as well as to interviewing subjects and obtaining the truth. Each day is unique, and the workload varies frequently.
Conclusion
Although private investigators in the real world are just people who want to be professionals like you and me, the movie image of Jack Nicholson, Humphrey Bogart, and Tom Selleck fighting the dark side for justice and money is likely to stay.
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