Mr. Newman,

I would be honored to be considered, even as a consultant, to assist your efforts, the efforts of The Association of British Investigators and the Security Industry Authority in this endeavor.  I found the provided materials; Research into Private Investigators Best Practices, insightful, well articulated and timely.  Our entire industry is going through a transformation and it takes professionals to work at the same level, with the same goals, having the same vision, to be a success. We are at a pivotal point, and now is the time to stand up, make our voices heard and professionalize our industries across states, countries, continents and the globe.

As our firm has faced many challenges over 42 years in the investigations business, specifically in the United States, we have a unique Regional and National perspective to offer.  My father, who is still semi-active with cases during retirement, is a valuable source of information and still has one of the most respected names within the industry.  He also possesses knowledge that can not be found in the investigation history books (as there really are none) and he can contribute on what has been tried and tested in the past. Also as you may already know, I am an outspoken advocate for the Investigative, Surveillance, Security and Risk Management community.  I have grown up in and around investigators and surveillance operatives my entire life and have witnessed how many specialties in our profession, have become a commodity.

My references, if needed, are available.  My management team and I will make ourselves available to assist you as a global unified stance is vital to our industry’s success, regardless of specialty.

Sincerely,

Christopher R. Bauer

CEO / Licensed Private Detective

Bauer Risk Management

That would be wonderful and your assistance would be appreciated on this assignment. As for the “tight budget”, this client was under the misconception that $525 per day, per operative would be sufficient.  Not only does this current “National Vendor jockeying for position” phenomenon affect their results, it affects ours. The worst thing that it does is clouds their minds with low cost, low cost, low cost.  These tactics reduce the compensation for the people that matter the most; the field agents.  There is no such a thing as an “8 hour” day in surveillance or when documenting another persons activity.  There are also no continuous results from inexperience or a great surveillance agent that are willing to work for just over minimum wage.

I have been working with this client over a dozen or so cases and through communication, have agreed to $650 per day, for one agent, with general background research, 150 miles and 8 hours.  Do I consider this sufficient, no I personally do not.  I also consider this “tight” for the task at hand.  I want you to be able to bill your regular hourly rates so you, your agent and your firm are able to profit for the quality you possess off of this and any referral from my organization.  On this case, as she has stated that it is vital to get results for her, it makes it imperative for the agents we deploy to understand that we are striving for more than just a single clients understanding.  This woman is an advocate for truth, is very well connected in the Insurance and legal community in Chicago and now sees (and I believe understands) the vital importance of quality so she can provide both you and I what is needed to remain a viable source of information in a business that is quickly becoming a commodity.

Please let me know if your firm has the ability to perform this task under the given time restraints and thank you for you responding to our request for assistance.

Sincerely,

Christopher Bauer

We obtained video on everything that was available and provided a recommendation on how to proceed.  My father use to say; “all that is available is all that is available”.  In my opinion, all clients are concerned with one of three choices; time, results and cost.  We have based our pricing structure and company design around this motto.  We can hope to get all our desired results at the same time, but statistically it is not possible.  Stellar results take time and time is an investment.  The choice has to be made on which one is the most important.  Good people have to take the stand and speak up for results.

The insurance industry, for example, is in the cost phase and it is affecting their results.  This has only been for the past 5 years, but the industry cycle is 7 years.  Over the past 5 years, we have been “edged out” of numerous insurance company vendor lists for a lower priced vendor, but never have we been edged out by those clients that are seeking results.  We have also been overlooked by “vendor management”, when just a few months previous; we saved the exact same insurance company $400,000 on a single claim.  That savings could have paid for all our services for the next 5 years.  Does this theory hold water; no their decisions are now based on cost.  Actually $4.00 per hour was why the other surveillance company was selected.  The funny part is that company just two years later was edged out over $2.00 per hour. I guess in 2009 we will be billing $29.95 per hour and paying minimum wage to our “dedicated, trained professional staff”.

As you are aware, we are working with numerous variables when dealing with the unknown activities of another human being.  Surveillance is much more difficult than pressing the red button on the camera.  We have trained our agents to understand the objective, spoken and unspoken, and get what the clients need to make an educated decision.  These results are still obtained even when we have limited information in the beginning of the request. When we are unable to fulfill the objective, like in the case of this delivery person, the dynamics changed, thus our approach changed.  My team and I also understand your frustration.

I only ask that you trust in you decision to partner with a firm like ours that puts the clients needs and the assignments results first.  I know we will never be able to compete with the insurance industry’s lowest priced “investigative” providers, but they will never be able to compete with us on results.  Only time will tell whose theory on how to conduct investigations is correct.  The sad part is that this decision is currently being left up to some micromanaging bean counter who does not understand the dynamics or benefit of results vs. lowest hourly cost.  This lack of results in turn, will lead to the demise of the insurance industry and the trust the general public has with insurance providers.  The results that are obtained by the lowest priced providers are coincidental reinforcement at best, and they are destroying the image and provisional investigative agency from the inside out.

During a training program for the Air Force Commanding Generals, questions were raised about systems for feedback and measurement used to oversee [and] to gain higher ranking within the particular armed force.  The General in charge said. "That's the way we train people. They're top pilots, not trained managers. Everyone gets an annual printout of the perceptions of all those they interface with, and the strength of those perceptions. They use it as the basis for their personal and professional development, and no one gets promoted unless they have high marks, including from their subordinates."  He went on to say that the very survival of the country depends on those people and even remarking, “did you really think that we would allow ourselves to enter into a popularity contests?”

How does this concept differ from that of a company like ours?  Being a more agile aggressive organization we have the ability to adapt with the feedback provided from our clients and the suggestions for improvement from our team members.  This is where execution and alignment builds an organization that’s systems; process and behavior are engrained into synergistic client focused vigilance.  This vigilance to procedures and overall details will provide the desired effectiveness and accountability to make our company more poised to gain market share over the larger national organizations and produce higher return to each and every team member involved in the process.

It is management’s opinion that each team member must be happy with their return on their mental, physical, spiritual and emotional investment within the firm.  This is the specific reasoning behind the R. Bauer & Associates TEAM bonus structure compensation initiative we have implemented.  To maximize our results as they relate to the Air Force model noted above, we must achieve the results from our investigative and surveillance efforts, and overall business structure in a way that enables us to get more results in the future. (For all you Franklin Covey bookworms out there, effectiveness was also explained as the balance between production of desired results (P) and production capacity (PC). 

As a mid-size, visionary Detective Agency with its goals focused on strategic growth, our security lies in our power as a group to produce solutions to each and every clients ever changing needs.  Best of luck during this upcoming week!

Christopher R. Bauer

One of the big buzzwords in all the business periodicals is the phrase Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  Typically this lingo is mostly spoken in the context of large companies attempting to get back to the "higher ground" from all the missteps over the past years.  It is a quick way for these companies to show their "importance" within a community and how their contribution affects the entire world in which we live in a positive light. As suppliers and consumers we must remember to question how everything affects our own organization and us personally. Treating "social issues" in a public arena is just the way big business operates, strategic maintaining its future.

As our own business environment expands to an increasingly global market, we must gain perspective into the bigger picture and see how misdeeds of one company can have negative implications on an entire industry as a whole. But what does this new focus on CSR have on the smaller Investigative firms across the United States? Plenty. Smaller firms are the largest segment business market in the United States, especially in our industry. It is vital that even the smallest firms strive to lead by example and act instead of react to pending issues affecting the everyday business of the organization.  Smaller companies need to focus on each client’s request down to the smallest detail.  Sometimes these request are even unspoken, the most difficult kind. Kudos to team members Jeff, Jill and Beth on taking initiative and providing their personal time assisting as volunteers during the Avon Breast Cancer walk. That is the true meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility.

In my opinion, smaller businesses have the unique opportunity to gain powerful competitive advantage by spotting and supplying before their larger competitors.  This is done through constant and open communication with clients who have placed their faith and trust in our team. You see, we have the ability to analyze customer trends and reshape our organizations focus in a more proactive way than ever before in the history of business. By reestablishing higher standards and integrity, transparency and results, we are making partnerships with clients in an entirely different way than ever before. 

R. Bauer & Associates is actively involved in not only external Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, but also increasingly planting the seed with each contact we make for debates on issues that shape and reshape the investigations and surveillance profession. Within this context, we are generating value created opportunities in a growth market. The fast food approach to our profession will soon be a thing of the past within our industry and stepping in to meet the fast-growing demand for highly specialized, regionally placed trained observers will be the leaders of today’s R. Bauer & Associates team.

Remember that in the Investigations and Surveillance business, Corporate Social Responsibility starts first thing in the morning as your prepare for the day ahead and ends just before you retire to bed, knowing that you have done everything you can to assist the clients request and placed their interest first.

Have a wonderful and productive week.

Christopher R. Bauer

Attn: Governor Rod Blagojevich
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Blagojevich;

Pursuant to a Chicago Sun-Times article dated Tuesday, February 1^st 2005, I am submitting my resume for consideration to lead your  Workers’ Compensation Anti Fraud Unit.  I currently work on behalf of, and consult for, some of Illinois largest employers, Law Firms and business leaders. I also possess a unique “insiders” perspective that allows me to work closely within all levels of the process and hear the issues that are being faced on a multiple levels.  This perspective can not be found in opinion polls and business group agenda meetings.

My 15 years of experience in combating fraudulent activity and testifying on behalf of Illinois business, will greatly increase the effectiveness of this reform agenda.  My firms 40 year Illinois history allows me to have at my disposal some of the most intelligent leaders within the Illinois claims community, including Claims Managers, Claims Supervisors, Claim’s Adjusters, Special Investigative Unit personnel, Arbitrators and Human Resource personnel. This alone is a valuable resource that can change the direction of the reform agenda and offer a grassroots initiative to place public opinion behind this and all future initiatives.

I have spoken at the 12^th Annual Workers’ Compensation & Disability conference and the Midwest Claims conference to assist the industry combat fraud and deception. I have spoken to numerous groups and have even guest lectured with Arbitrator Lee from the Chicago Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. I am currently active in numerous national and local organizations that discuss the issues of Workers’ Compensation and Fraud in meetings and newsletters and R. Bauer & Associates is the preferred provider of Surveillance and Investigative services to the Illinois Department of Transportation in Northern Illinois due to the results that have been provided.

There is a large interest in researching and revising the current issues when dealing with the increasing costs of Workers’ Compensation, both locally and nationally.  Local businesses are at a cross roads that will lead to either selecting another business friendly environment or reducing the cost associated by submitting deceptive workers records or the jobs they perform.  With a pro-active approach we can keep Illinois business and their revenue in Illinois.    

I would be honored to be a part of your team to reform the Illinois’ workers compensation system and to work alongside Ms. Lopez and any other members of your team.  I am confident that we can address the symptoms and causes in an expedient manner and determine an appropriate plan to substantially reduce the effect and exposure this issue is having on community businesses.

I look forward from receiving a reply from you or your staff regarding your decision and the possibility of my service to you and the State of Illinois. Thank you for your time and consideration of my correspondence.

Sincerely,

Christopher R. Bauer

CEO / Licensed Private Detective

R. Bauer & Associates, Inc.

As I am sure many of you know Johnny Carson the King of Late night television for 30 years has died early Sunday at age 79 at his home in Malibu, California. Carson was host of the late-night talk show from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992. A phenomenal run in any business let alone show business.

The laugh and charm of this great comedian will be missed, especially by a little boy who remembers staying up late, sitting on the floor in front of his parent’s bed to watch the Tonight Show.  This was bedtime for countless American families, including mine.

People say that The Tonight Show was edgy, outlandish and innovative.  As a child, those things never mattered to me, I never got the jokes that were “edgy” I was only a kid. Johnny may have walked the line, but looking back as an adult, he never crossed it. Adult humor, that didn’t corrupt the minds of children and young adults by needless explanation and repetition.

In the current age of Hollywood, line crossing, nudity, violence and fake reality gets publicity, people talking and viewers. Since ratings equal money, it will only continue to get more outlandish. That attention makes “hopeful’s”, one step closer to financial reward. Johnny’s elegance and style offered laughs that, even today, it is a rare trait for someone in the public spot light, business or show business. Very admirable Mr. Carson, thank you.

With gentleness and kindness from his monologue, Johnny immediately put you at ease, even within your own home. Truly a legendary entertainer and a man to forever admired for bringing smiles to millions of other viewers every weeknight evening. Late night has never, and will never be the same.  Thank you Mr. Carson for providing years of non-politically based, non-negative entertainment in my home. You will be missed.

When these lucky moments happen, you just go with them and enjoy the experience and high of the moment.

-Johnny Carson

As one year passes to the next, many of us have already began thinking how we can better ourselves, our lives, our communities and our professions. It is best if we use the end of each year to ask ourselves some vital questions and look to seize opportunities, while enjoying more moments with the ones we love.  With the investigative profession of course it is much more complex.  Our chosen career path is constantly changing and evolving.  Personal time is limited, especially during the times the rest of the workforce is celebrating holidays and weekends. For the most part “free time” is unscheduled and at best sporadic.  Everyone in this profession knows that the client’s need come first, typically changing schedules at the last minute. Our own individual priorities, habits and capacities are constantly in an evolution of change; most times co-existing in a mysterious way that frequently defies logic.

This is a great time of year to reassess not only work, but individual resources, reconnect with values and to reconsider priorities.  We must take the time to ask ourselves some serious questions: What have we learned from our experiences over the past year?  Has the ground work been set for success next year?  Has what is most important been considered? What adjustments will need to made for a successful and invigorating year? Are goals, priorities and energy expenditures in balance?  What will make personal time more rewarding? How will the industry change and how will it change the approached I take? What will help my company succeed with its goals and mission?

We took a little of this advice for ourselves recently: In anticipation of 2005, R. Bauer & Associates embarked on just that kind of improvement-planning process using the Chameleon II. We began by asking ourselves some industry changing questions: “What could we be doing to better support our customers needs and goals?”  “What will it take to compete in a market that’s only concern is price rather than result?” “How can we differentiate ourselves?” Throughout the course of the past year, it became evident that one of our greatest strengths – our company’s determination – was also our company’s greatest area of challenge.  It was not until we were utterly disappointed that we considered changing some of our old approaches. It’s not until we were in a position of frustration that we finally gave ourselves permission to give something else a try.

It gradually dawned on us that many of the highest impact changes we could make encompassed the clientele and in the process they interacted with us.  Our goal was to make it easier for client’s to select the services that were most important to them, by what motivated them, the cost or the result.  Rather that reinventing the wheel and trying to “make them see” the benefits of a competent investigations, we realized that simplifying, classifying and streamlining the services was the key. In short, we did some soul searching and went back to the fundamentals; focus on the client’s first stated or unstated fundamental need first.  CII is the agent of that change.

We’re still testing many of the tools and systems that have evolved from this effort, but the preliminary results are exciting. As this system rolls out, instead of being faced with an overwhelming and seemingly endless array of services and information, clients will be more able to focus on their own goals, needs and priorities. Instead of wandering aimlessly through a sea of unneeded material, they will now have to tools and vital pieces of information at their fingertips instantly to proceed confidently toward the choices that are right for them. Many of the internal restrictions our clients faced are unknowingly designed to minimize results from investigations and surveillance. It is important that we as an organization remains focused on one individual client at a time while asking for specifics on their individual goals and priorities.  In this way, much like determining our own individual goals and needs for the upcoming year, we can meet and exceed the expectation of each and every client we serve.

As I look back on the past year it is with great enthusiasm from the valuable lesions learned and I dare to ask you all to rethink what needs rethinking. Define success on your own terms, make the plan and live life to the fullest. Dare to dream big; after all you have a whole new year – and us – on your team!

Wishing you all the best in 2005,

Christopher R. Bauer

CEO / Licensed Private Detective

R. Bauer & Associates, Inc. 

This is a brief follow up to the e-mail you received from the neighbor claiming to have information to "assist" your efforts. I have talked to the field agent who I assigned to this case. As you know, not every detail of neighborhood activity is noted within the reports and most of the report is focused on the subject and their specific activities and information gathered on their movements. I have determined and would suggest that you remain very cautious of this "good will" gesture. It seems that everything is not as it appears in small town America.

At the time of all the neighbor inquiries, the subject was not at the residence. It was noted however that there were 7 to 9 people out at the subjects (previous) residence on that day. The agent took position about 7 houses away while keeping a direct view of the driveway. A female from the residence sent a young male (pre-teen) to walk over to the vehicle to check it out. Since the vehicle was non-descript and the windows were "blacked-out", the little boy saw no one inside. They then contacted the neighbor and the neighbor also was noted looking directly at the vehicle a few minutes later. An hour later a female mail carrier "cupped" her hands at the vehicle in an attempt to look into the windows. At this time our agent lowered her window and asked what she could do for the carrier, no response was given.

As company protocol at R. Bauer & Associates, the field agent contacted the team leader and advised him of the strange situation and cautioned that the assignment might be to "hot" for a continued effort. The manager agreed and determined that it was in the best interest of the integrity of the file to discontinue at this time. The agent then departed for her residence. At this time, approximately 45 minutes later, our agent received a call (on her cellular telephone I might add) from a unknown male claiming to be a member of the local Police Department. The unidentified female from the residence told the officer that the vehicle was "in the area for 7 or 8 days in a row". The officer verbally expressed this to the field agent and without providing too much detail the agent denied the allegation and requested the office to direct any further questions to me. At the time of this e-mail, I have not been contacted in regards to this issue.

Since we have had an extensive history of working together, I will be frank. This neighbor and her "helpfulness" does not sit well with me. By her advising you that she "may be willing to testify to the fact that the subject was not "as hurt" as he claimed to be, or direct us to additional witnesses", but provided no specific information is reason one. She also claimed that "she observed him on numerous occasions lifting objects outside his restrictions". The term "outside of his restrictions" leads me to believe that they are closer that she is allowing you to know and to prove that fact she also mentioned that the subject's attorney said the he "wouldn't settle for less than $30K". Ok, maybe it's just my analytical mind but really, how is she going to know "restrictions" and what the attorney is willing to settle for. Is she a mediator or a witness? There are to many specifics here to be common occurrence. I believe that she is connected in some fashion. Let us remember the size of the town and what has occurred to date.

Second, she also stated that "the private investigator was extremely obvious” and she had contacted the police to report a strange car/person sitting outside of her house. She also went on to say that she "was unaware that we had hired a PI and was only worried for the safety of her children". She followed that up with and apology for "blowing our cover". Let's look at this for a brief second. You are well aware of the types of vehicles we have in our fleet. Not a single vehicle will be obvious, nor will they draw attention in any area unless that area is already "hot" or the claimant is suspicious because they (and the rest of the area) know they are lying. Two, who would make her "aware" that you hired a PI and why would that be done. Our training here at R. Bauer & Associates calls that technique "baiting". She was attempting to determine if you did or did not hire a PI to watch the subject. For what reason I am still unsure.

She also claimed that she was concerned about her children. Number one, our operative was female and the percentages of a female kidnapper is so low to a professional profiler for the FBI that it typically does not come into consideration without a strict set of circumstance or specific lead. Also, I believe that was another tactic used to divert you attention away for a follow up question. Anytime a child's safety is mention our first response as humans in America is to agree and change the subject to get away from choppy waters, which sounds like that is exactly what she wanted.

From experience I would say, without reservation, that all the information you provided to this "neighbor / witness" went directly to the subject on the very next call. I would highly suggest sending one of our senior investigators (or me personally) out to the residence to obtain a written and recorded statement of this person. This will solidify our questions and lock her into her story for trial. It would also provide us with additional information for our future surveillance efforts. I would also suggest continuing your surveillance efforts during one of the upcoming weekends (Halloween would be my first choice), utilizing two of our top surveillance operatives. This will allow us to stay farther from the residence, thus remaining more covert.