If you think that you know private investigators well enough to wield your own weapons and drive around in a fancy car, then think again. The real world of crime investigation, according to private investigator and former peace officer Brad Bacom, is nothing like it is on TV. Bacom will be teaching a class that will introduce attendees to the basics of private investigation on February 16 at the Lamar Institute of Technology. Speaking from the perspective of someone with nearly thirty years of experience, Bacom will start with four hours of a talk on the reality of private investigation. The entire course costs $600, and it will meet on February 16 and 23, and then on March 1, 8, 15, and 29.

Bacom has taught this same class for about a year at the same venue. He may not have high profile or television-worthy cases to talk about, but he does have a few experiences in dealing with criminals. He once had a knife pulled on him and robbed him as he was in the process of searching through an abandoned home. His worst injuries however, were on the job, Bacom says. Moreover, Bacom does not carry firearms to exhibit them while carrying out his investigation, which, the private eye says, is not the norm for many investigators. Besides, licensed private investigators are not allowed to carry guns, and being allowed to carry one will entail having to apply for a license for a concealed handgun.

Private investigation, moreover, is not just about going through wreckage to look for missing clues, or running after the bad guys to get a crucial piece of evidence. Private investigation is also about retrieving lost data from computers, or finding their sources, or even using databases to search for people. Private investigation may also involve proving or disproving the fidelity of spouses to each other through surveillance. Companies also hire private investigators to watch out for fraudulent employees and managers.

According to government statistics on private investigators, which are available at , there are around 52,000 licensed investigators in 2006, with about 34% of them working in investigation and security services. Although many private investigators hold basic degrees in criminal justice, many private investigators who have to work for companies or law firms will need additional degrees, experience, or certifications. If you are interested in working as a private investigator, do research on good schools that will provide you with a good background to excel in the field of private investigation in which you would like to be involved in the future.

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