Page 6 - March 2021 TTI

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

by Ivan Vikin
1833 marked the birth of the world’s first private investigator. A delivery of summons, subpoenas,
former French soldier Eugène François Vidocq founded the first and other legal documents to parties
known private investigative agency in France,“Le bureau des in legal cases. A handful of PIs
renseignments” (Office of Intelligence). The agency Eugene created specialize in technical surveillance
was short lived but initiated the business model of professional counter-measures which is the
investigators for hire. The groundwork laid by Vidoocq was taken a locating of illicit eavesdropping
step further by Allan Pinkerton, a Scottish immigrant, who traveled devices. Private investigators provide
across the ocean to America. He settled in Chicago where he opened essential background investigations,
a barrel-making business. Unwittingly, his detective career began five corporate investigations including
years later in 1847 when he stumbled upon a band of counterfeiters. antifraud work, loss prevention, and
Pinkerton conducted surveillance on the gang and was praised as a internal investigations of employee
local hero after he helped police affect arrests of the counterfeiters. misconduct, assist with political
Soon after, Allan founded the Pinkerton agency which still thrives campaigns performing background
today. The Pinkerton agency built a reputation for tracking down investigations on opponents and providing protection services for
and arresting outlaws and providing security for the railroads against candidates and their staff. Private investigators have also been
robbers in the open plains. Pinkerton is credited for coining the term contracted to investigate missing persons, track down runaways and
“private eye.” solve murders. Texas private investigators come from varied
backgrounds including retired federal, state, and local law

enforcement; intelligence/counterintelligence; executive protection;
Today, private investigators and the agencies they work for have and prior military. Many PIs have backgrounds in finance,
evolved by leaps and bounds. Private investigators provide a wide accounting, possess law degrees and hold certifications to perform
range of services using a variety of online database services to fulfill cyber security and computer forensic work.
their missions. Without these databases, the ability of private

investigators to perform their important work and to positively
In this edition, you will discover the rich and unique qualities of
impact lives and businesses would be greatly diminished. Texas private investigators and read about their tremendous
accomplishments. We hope you enjoy this issue of The Texas
Private investigators in Texas are involved in process serving, personal
Investigator.

4 | MARCH 2021 THE TEXAS INVESTIGATOR