Sheila Klopper has been a private investigator for almost 30 years. She
chuckles as she shares her unusual secret for getting many people to talk
to her.
"The biggest thing that's gotten me interviews when people didn't want
to talk is that I ride a motorcycle," she says.
It's all about relating to people, says Klopper. "People skills and being
able to relate to people" are among the most important skills a private investigator
can have, according to Klopper. Also important, as you might guess, is, "Having
the curiosity of trying to solve a puzzle."
Klopper specializes in legal investigation. This usually involves helping
a defense attorney prove that his or her client is innocent, or that the crime
committed is less serious than what's alleged.
It might seem like an unusual profession for a former police officer, but
many private investigators are former police officers or military personnel.
However, private investigators come from a variety of backgrounds. And
they may or may not have formal training in private investigation.
Klopper had many different jobs before becoming a PI. "I fell into it by
accident," she says.
She started out in retail, then worked in social services, taught physical
education, joined the army reserve and became a police officer.
One of her training officers at the police academy had been a police detective
for 15 years. He got fed up with it, became a private detective, and asked
Klopper to join him. She hasn't looked back since.
"All of the things I'd done involved interacting with people and interviewing
people," she says. "All of those things have come into play in what I do now."
Carl Franco was also a police officer before becoming a private investigator.
He had reached the rank of detective with the police service. He now runs
a school for aspiring private investigators.
"Our industry is the most fascinating kind of work," he says. "I like the
most that I can help anyone and everyone that has a problem. I love when I
solve a problem for him or her and they're happy."
Most of Franco's career as a private investigator has involved working
for insurance companies and law firms, doing things like investigating motor
vehicle accidents and industrial accidents.
Franco would take measurements from accident scenes and take evidence from
people. By being an expert in legal rules of evidence and collection, he was
able to help law firms and insurance companies establish a case.
"For me, I like my freedom, and I've been my own boss for 21 years," says
Klopper. "I like the contact with people, especially when I've been able to
do something really successful that's made a huge difference in someone's
life.
"There's no question, a PI can make a big impact on someone's life. It's
a wonderful career field if you're lucky enough to break into it and hold
onto it. I wish I'd gotten into it sooner."