Latest news with #privateinvestigators
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Longtime private investigators say Massachusetts State Police is denying license renewals
Longtime private investigators say the Massachusetts State Police is denying their license renewal applications. The PIs say the department is disqualifying police officers and preventing them from working, leaving criminal cases in jeopardy and putting some private eyes out of business. Television shows like Magnum PI glamorize the life of private investigators. In reality, the job is often not as exciting, but it is rewarding. Joe DeSimone is a retired Cambridge sergeant detective and has been a licensed private investigator for nearly a decade. "Most of my business is criminal defense work," DeSimone said, "and most of those clients are indigent." DeSimone keeps up his Peace Officer Standards and Training or POST certification so he can do traffic details in Cambridge. Recently he applied to renew his PI license and thought it would be easy because he says, "I was probably one of a handful of guys in the state that had the license prior to retirement." POST certification Months ago, the Massachusetts State Police, the agency that certifies private investigators, added language to the requirements on its website. It says, "The applicant shall not be currently certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission." A decision that would effectively disqualify DeSimone and potentially hundreds of other police officers who work as private investigators. "POST certification was developed to allow the public to keep an eye on police officers who were accused of things like excessive force etc.," said Domenic Paolino, DeSimone's attorney. "POST has nothing to do with being a private investigator." Disqualified for police details But DeSimone's POST certification was not the reason the State Police denied his application, in a letter it listed another disqualifier. That said he was denied because he does Cambridge police details. Joe says that decision effectively puts him out of business. "Nowhere is that codified anywhere, there's nothing in writing, there's been no change to the statute even for the POST certification," DeSimone said. Attorney Paolini cannot understand why this happening now. "He's been doing details for several years," Paolini said. "He was a municipal police officer, a detective sergeant, which should give him good qualifications to be a PI but they're saying the things that would make you a good PI disqualify you which is really mind boggling." MSP says PIs must be former officers The State Police told the I-Team, "Massachusetts General Law prohibits POST-certified individuals who exercise police powers from becoming certified private investigators (PI) – though they can function as an employee of another person who maintains a PI license." Here is the language of the statute, which makes clear that PIs must be a former officer or member of a United States Investigative Service: M.G.L. c. 147 s. 24" Attorney Paolini sees it differently. "What they have done is added their own qualifications without approval from the legislature or the legislature changing the law," Paolini said. "In our system, the legislature makes the rules, makes the laws and the courts interpret them. I don't see an interpretation by a court or by a legislator that changes these rules." DeSimone says he is qualified and plans to appeal the decision. "The state police don't get to pick and choose, shouldn't get to pick and choose who is going to be a PI who is not going to be a PI," DeSimone said. "You put me out of business you put a lot of PIs out of business. It's unfair." DeSimone's attorney says if they are not successful appealing to the state police colonel, he will head to court, where he is likely to have company. Other private investigators who also had their applications denied tell the I-Team, that's what they plan to do too.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- The Independent
Constance Marten tells jury aristocratic family member ‘doesn't want me alive'
Constance Marten has claimed a member of her aristocratic family 'doesn't want me alive' and 'will stop at nothing to get what they want' as she was cross-examined by her partner Mark Gordon. The mother, who is standing trial over the death of her fifth baby while on the run, told jurors at the Old Bailey she was tracked by private investigators who she believes tampered with their cars. She said 'all hell broke loose' with her influential family after she returned from a trip to Peru several years ago pregnant with Mr Gordon, who is now representing himself in court after his barristers withdrew. Under questioning from her co-defendant, she said the couple were being watched and photographed in a 'cat and mouse game' with her estranged family. Marten told jurors that they were pursued by private investigators, that multiple vehicles they had used stopped working and that she found a GPS tracker on one. She told the jury she was 'very fearful' after their car exploded shortly after the birth of Victoria, their fifth child, who they had concealed from the authorities to stop her being taken into care like their four other children. 'I just feel that after I spoke out about a family member of mine eight years ago… that's why I feel that this person doesn't want me alive and feel that he might be behind the explosion of the car,' she said. She said they previously spent several months living in a camper van to evade her family, but the steering later failed, adding: 'There's a few people in my biological family that see me as an embarrassment and are scared that I will speak out against them and will stop at nothing to get what they want. 'I think some people from privilege think they are above the rules. It's harrowing because you are up against these people who will stop at nothing and have endless resources and connections and I just don't feel that I can get away from them.' Ms Marten, 37, and her partner Mr Gordon, 50, deny the gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter Victoria and causing or allowing her death in January 2023. The prosecution alleges Victoria died from hypothermia or was smothered while co-sleeping in a "flimsy" tent on the South Downs, despite past warnings. Marten told jurors that the tent was intended to be a "pit stop" to avoid "prying eyes". She wept as she said that she would "turn back time" if she knew Victoria was in danger, adding that they "spent so long trying to protect her". Victoria's decomposing remains were later found stashed in a rubbish-filled shopping bag in a disused allotment shed. Last year, the parents were convicted of concealing the birth of the child and perverting the course of justice in a previous trial. The trial continues.
