'Ask Ernie'
Private Eyes - Part 3
By Ernesto Patino - Mystery Author, Lecturer & Private Eye

As readers we are fascinated with private eyes who, at least in fiction, appear to lead exciting lives. They solve murders, find missing witnesses, uncover deadly plots and secrets, have steamy one-night stands… Well, you get the picture. But are they realistic?  How glamorous is the life of a real private eye? If you are a mystery writer should you even care whether or not the private eye in your novel is portrayed in a realistic manner?  Good questions.  Because of my background as a former FBI agent turned private investigator, I’ve had many writers ask me questions about my work and about law enforcement in general.

I would like to share my responses to some of these questions:

1. In my novel a parole violator agreed to meet with a private eye on the condition that he not turn him in. The parole violator provided the private eye with a good tip about some stolen property that belonged to the private eye’s client. Is the private eye obligated to notify the police?

Answer:  The short answer is yes.  The private eye would be required to turn him in. However, if the parole violator is a fugitive for a minor violation-- petty theft, drug user, etc. the private eye would probably not turn him, at least not after an initial meeting.

2. The protagonist in my novel is a P.I who is having an affair with the wife of his client, a wealthy real estate developer. Do private investigators have a code of conduct similar to what law enforcement officers are required to follow?

Answer:  Rules and regulations for private investigators vary from state to state, but generally speaking, private investigators are not required to follow a specific code of conduct. The exception would be if the P.I. happens to work for a big law firm. Big law firms have strict rules for all their employees, to include private investigators under contract.