Bullhead City PI says investigator's role is changing

By Ric Swats

River Cities Business Journal

BULLHEAD CITY - Private investigator Lyle Sharman, president and owner of United Private Investigations and Security Service, spends a lot of time doing mundane things like drug tests and background checks for employers these days instead of the more glamourous TV-style escapades.

“It isn't what people used to see on Magnum PI stuff,” Sharman said.

The former Orange, Calif., police officer and ex-head of security for Mandalay Bay Properties, Sharman now spends a great deal of his time drug testing and running background checks.

“This amounts to about probably 80 to 90 percent of my work,” Sharman said. “Private investigating has grown to whole new dimensions.

“Drug testing kind of came into place with background checks. People like to do one-stop shopping. You do drug testing and background checks all in one stop.”

It isn't that Sharman doesn't take on what people think of as more typical private investigation jobs. His list of services includes numerous forms of training, including female self defense training, child protection training and even concealed weapons permit training.

He also investigates missing persons, does surveillance, bail enforcement and bodyguard and client protection services.

But, he feels most strongly about pre-employment screening and financial crimes.

“In Arizona you don't have to be licensed to be a (drug test) collector. You don't have to, but you should be,” Sharman said. “Anybody who is licensed through a credible agency gives you protection. What happens if you do the test improperly? The employer has to answer for that.”

Sharman does his drug testing on location and says he can provide an employer with an extra edge.

A potential employee may be called back for a second interview and if the employer decides he wants to continue to pursue the employee he can Sharman waiting on site, ready to administer the drug test and run a background check.

This doesn't allow the potential employee an opportunity to try to mask drugs with chemicals or try and trick the tester.

He can also run a background check at the same time.

“What amazes me is that a company won't spend $25 to $30 to do a background check,” Sharman said. “They can save themselves a lot of trouble by finding out someone has a criminal background before they hire them.”

Sharman also provides employers with a CD with Arizona drug laws and a model drug policy for their companies so each company, no matter how small, can develop a drug testing policy.

Sharman charges about $25 for a urine screen and $25 to $30 for a background check and can do it on location while the client waits.

He also can do DNA tests, but said they are expensive. They typically costs $350 to $450 each.

Another important aspect of his business is financial crime. That can include finding someone who passed a bad check to teaching workers to spot counterfeit bills.

“Most of your small businesses don't cash commercial checks like the casinos,” Sharman said. “But, there are a lot of fake checks out there.

“One businessman asked me ‘You know, we're doing this class on financial crimes, but I don't remember ever seeing a fraudulent bill,” Sharman said. “I told him ‘You probably just passed it on'. Financial crimes are rampant in the Bullhead City area.”

To contact Sharman call (928) 565-9701 or e-mail LSE@citlink.net.