Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 134, Number 1, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 5 January 2012 — Page 3

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Careers, from front

rior of the building when she called that she thought she heard shooting. "I was inside getting ready to lock the doors," he said, "and I went outside to check and the door I was walking out of got shot out." Not armed at the time, he said he went to get the patrons from the parking lot so they could seek cover inside the mall. "The best thing we could do at the time was get people to safety and hope tne police got mere before anyone got hurt," he said. The shooters were quickly apprehended by police but because they were minors, and their lawyers used the defense that they hadn't been trying to kill anyone, just scare them, the teens "got off fairly easy." "It was the most dangerous and fat? most frustrating (incident)," he explained. For those that might be interested in the private investigation sector Hartzell noted that the biggest difference between public and private law enforcement was that working privately, you don't get paid unless you actually find the person. And while the arrest rate is higher for those in the public sector one can spend more time on canvassing to attain more information on a single case with the private license. He said he's had to haul in those that skipped out after being bailed out of jail on roughly 30 occasions and that one fugitive he apprehended was on the county's top most wanted list and another was wanted on the terrorist list. "I've never shot anyone but I've pulled my gun on several occasions," he said. "Every time I went to get someone from Michigan though, I got shot at, and usually it was from someone inside a building with children in it."Not only individuals, process servers, attorneys, and companies have sought Hartzell's expertise some-

Angle, from front

"l've been a member of the Nappanee Rotary dub for 30 some years," he explained, "serving as president, vice president, secretary, and now as the newsletter editor." Tobias is also a member of the local park board and working further with the community, worked with the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce as the official "note taker" for more years than anyone can specifically remember (though it was dedded "more than 17"). At a recent Chamber meeting, Tobias was recognized and given a certificate of excellence for his efforts working with the retail committee, co-chair Dan Mast saying he was "pretty sure Dale's never missed a meeting" though Tobias admitted he had missed a couple ... for spring break travel-

times it is other investigative companies or police departments that need more information than they can get through their own resources. As a private investigator Hartzell and his assistants can obtain photographic evidence, use programs to "find" deleted cell phone records, and access record databases and acquire the latest technology as is needed. Of Nappanee, Hartzell said, 'The police have always worked really good with security staff as opposed to the relations with Elkhart and Goshen where there's not a whole lot of support." Those that sparked from TV shows to become P.l.s should take note that its a job that does require serious training. One must be licensed, and to qualify, must have earned a degree in a related field (such as criminal justice or criminal psychology) or have 4,000 nours of experience in a related field. Additionally, Indiana is one of the strictest in the country when it comes to qualifications and testing. "For fugitive recovery you have to be individually licensed," Hartzell said. "There's a 12-hour course that is based alone on bail bonds and every two years you have to be relicensed through the state. ... Fugitive Recovery and Bail Bondsmen are actually licensed through the Indiana Department of Insurance because they are considered a type of insurance collection." "Indiana is strict but for good reason," Hartzell continued. "They want to make sure they're not giving privileged resources to an irresponsible party. You don't want just anyone to be able to have the authority to access confidential records, and detailed background checks." Sticking with the investigative and protection ser-

ing. He also received a gift from Chamber Director Jeff Kitson who offered him a digital camera. About 30 years under his belt working with newspapers, Tobias will surely use

, THANKYOU! I To everyone whose life touched ours in recent months. Your love, prayers, thoughts, and kindnesses, helped console our hearts during pMary Alice Moore’s illness and the passing away of our mom. Special Blessings to First Church of God, ) Pastor Sam Bennett, Rev. Robert Fields, J Nappanee Family Medical Clinic, jStM Miller’s Merry Manor staff, Thompson ‘"jJ i Lengacher Funeral Home, and to our rjMf I dear friends and neighbors who continue to care -•- our love, Janet and Larry Homan Kay and Dallas Yoder Wmdelaad Ron Ritchie 'fWW and their families \1

Community

vices, Hartzell said normally he is hired by private citizens for custody issues. He recalled one incident where a former fellow soldier had hired him to find proof of abuse of his children by a man living with the custodial mother. 'That was probably my favorite success story," he said, "getting those kids in a safe home." His most rewarding incident involved the shooting at the mall. "One of the people I helped to safety was a man that paints murals for the mall," he said. "He and his kid and wife came in and found me about a week later and the first thing he did was introduce me to his wife and then gave me big hug. Every time you get to help someone it is rewarding." As far as being hired to determine whether or not there is infidelity of a spouse, he said it too is not an issue like it is portrayed for a viewing audience. "Indiana has a no-fault divorce rule and so even if they were involved in adultery, it wouldn't make a difference," he said. "I've been up front with people about that because they aren't going to get any different results either way." That type of honesty may be one reason his company has been recognized for getting the job done. The company's name was derived from Hartzell's desire to amend (make better or improve) situations. "We do things a little differently than other companies," Hartzell said, "If we get to an address and it doesn't appear that they are home or the home is abandoned or doesn't exist we look into it, check with neighbors and make sure the service is done thoroughly. Some companies you pay whether the service is carried out or not and we will make at least two or three attempts without charging any extra." He said that he's lost money on assignments in the past, in trying to assure

the device as a tool for looking at life through the eyes of a man with no deadlines to meet at all he will be retiring from The Papers as well in mid-January.

that justice is done above his trying to earn a profit. In one case, he was to find a woman that had left town and was "technically trying to go through the right processes." "She hadn't left because she was trying to avoid anything," he explained. "She needed medical care from a hospital in another state. We found her and filed a long report with the court for an extension. We let her go at the time and helped her. We gave up about a thousand dollars on bringing her in and spent a couple hundred following up on everything. The majority of agents won't do that. They don't care why you left town. They won't even listen." Of the TV shows that might inspire the budding investigator Hartzell says they are mostly bunk. "Shows like Dog the Bounty Hunter there is almost no situation there that is real,"

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Advance News » Thursday, January 5, 2012 •

he said. "I would say that most of the shows like that are set up for entertainment value." He said whenlumting fugitives, most give up when they realize' they've been found, and many are "very decent about it." "The only problems I've had for recovery are when they are illegal citizens," he said, "they don't want to be caught and returned." Owning one's own P.I. business does have it's perks you get to hire people you want to work with. Hartzell's best friend Anthony Mantell, whom he's known since the sixth grade and whom he joined the National Guard with, worked at the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department with, and later, they both earned business degrees at the same time, is on staff as is another friend they went to school with. He's also hired people he's worked with in the past and has on staff investiga-

2012 officers installed Photo provkhd The 2012 Open Installation of Officers Banquet for Bremen Lodge #414 F.& A.M. was held Dec. 13. The following officers were titled (from left): Front row Mark Zimmerman, Worshipful Master (consecutively) for 2012: Dan Widmoyer, Steve Tillman, Max Flickinger, and Lowell Roberts; and back row Jake Dermott, Mike Davis, Dr. Rick Weidow, Kevin Barber, and Landa Stone.

tion assistants with several 'looks," within a wide range of ages and of the opposite sex, to meld into almost any situation. "We have a person that if he doesn't shave for one day fits perfectly with the criminal element" Hartzell said. "We have a young lady and a big Russian man. If we need intimidation, he's the guy." Hartzell said the P.I. business comes with both the good and the bad. "The bad part is the waiting in between clients," he said one of the reasons he started the security service being he wanted to guarantee his employees a steady paycheck. "The best part is there's never a shortage of excitement." To contact Hartzell, call 574-221-9159, visit www. amendinvestigations.com or email [email protected].

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