Whether it’s in the legal, cyber security or cargo crime fields, being an expert investigator brings its share of action every day. 

The investigator’s job is primarily to investigate an insurance claim to determine whether fraud has occurred. In this role, they might also have to examine damaged property, coordinate with law enforcement, interview the claimant, and gather information about the loss.  

To demystify the nature of their work and to help you make informed choices if you need to hire them, we asked our experts a few questions. Mike Proska, Deputy Director Investigations and Stacy Gallant, Director of Consulting and Investigations, help insurers, corporations, attorneys and individuals navigate the challenging situations they face. 

 

What is your role and what kind of work does it entail on a daily basis? 

Mike: My role involves working with my team to manage complex and sensitive investigations and security audits. Additionally, I command Garda’s Cargo Crime Unit which investigates cargo crimes in Canada and abroad. 

Stacy: I oversee the division. Reporting directly to the Vice President, my duties include assigning investigators, consultants, and executive protection agents, as well as business development and preparing service agreements. Much of my time is spent forging relationships with clients and developing new relationships. I use my extensive network of contacts from my previous 31-year career in law enforcement to market our services and have access to other experts as needed.  

 

What qualifications are helpful in doing your job? 

Mike: To do my job, I have to be highly detailed and open-minded. Also, with about 25,000 investigative hours and having interviewed thousands of people in Canada and around the globe, you develop the insight and investigative techniques to get clients the information they need to make informed decisions. Add to that a background in policing and extensive training in this field and you too could fill this role. 

Stacy: My qualifications come again from years in law enforcement, plus having some business intelligence to be able to keep the division profitable. In my previous career, I did not have to deal with ensuring revenue flow on a monthly basis, managing profit and loss or negotiating contracts. This I had to learn “on the job” and, thankfully, I have been able to adapt to this new role.  

 

What kind of work do you specifically do for law firms? 

Mike: Law firms ask us to handle all kinds of matters pertaining to some form of litigation. This could include in-depth investigations or surveillance of individuals in relation to the litigation. 

Stacy: For law firms, our services include mobile and static surveillance, meaning in cars or on foot, following a person, monitoring a residence or business location. We also conduct interviews, document checks, evidence searches, internet searches, background checks, photo and video taking as needed. Anything that can assist a law firm in their litigation. All work is always confidential.  

 

How do they approach you? 

Mike: Most of our legal clientele has us on speed dial if urgent or will drop us an email. Others can reach us 24/7 at 416-915-9500 ext 3400 or [email protected] 

Stacy: Law firms hear about us primarily from other law firms or associates who do their PI work, and they reach out. Again, after 31 years in law enforcement, I have many contacts in law firms. It’s kind of a personal thing where you know each other from prior dealings. Also, a certain amount of trust is present when you had a prior relationship. Some law firms contact us after seeing advertisements or posts on LinkedIn, for example.  

 

What are the biggest challenges in your line of work?  

Mike: The biggest challenge in my field is not being detected by the target, either during discreet inquiries or surveillance. Fortunately, my team and I are seasoned and adept investigators, which mitigates the risk. 

Stacy: For me, as the director of this division, it’s all about maintaining revenue. Because the investigative work is done primarily on an as-needed basis, you rarely get a ‘contract’ that would provide a continuous monthly income. It’s more a pay as you go service, you don’t always know how long an investigation might take, it could be a day or a month. There is a lot of uncertainty in that regard. I try to keep my investigators as busy as possible to make sure they have as much work as they want. Many of the investigators I employ are former law enforcement personnel who have retired from a long career. They don’t always want a full work week, some only want a few days a week. As long as they get quality results, it’s not a problem! 

 

Discover all the services our investigators can offer by visiting our website.