What’s the one thing that our parents tell us when we’re young? Do not lie. I remember getting in trouble for lying several times in my childhood. Looking back at those times, I am glad my parents encouraged me to tell the truth, no matter what. As I grew and took an interest in true crime, I wondered if private eyes and process servers in OKC had to be truthful 24/7. Wouldn’t it affect their investigation in some situations? Well, it turns out that it could. According to Dr. Tinsley Keefe, a decorated private investigator in OKC, you need to learn when to lie.
While the doctor admires the trait of being truthful, she believes you need to be strategic with your lies. Why? Because it’s the only way you can succeed as a detective in the long term.
Why Lying May Be Necessary For PIs
Making it big as a private detective requires unmatched dedication and skill. However, if you do not master the art of lying spontaneously, you can say goodbye to working on major cases. The inability to lie is a big reason why many PIs work on smaller cases. It’s almost impossible for them to move up, despite being in the field for years.
Dr. Tinsley Keefe often reminds aspiring PIs to think of lying as a strategy instead of a bad thing. Because at the end of the day, your goal is to determine a suspect’s guilt. If you were to remain truthful while interrogating suspects, you might reveal your intentions. Once that happens, people might try to hide the truth, making the investigation more difficult. So, whenever conducting an investigation, remind yourself that a little white lie never hurts anybody.
Lying Isn’t Always Malicious
Putting labels on certain words can make them good or bad. For instance, when you label lying as something malicious, you will have a hard time fabricating stories when needed. Private investigators in OKC should consider removing these labels to up their game. Dr. Tinsley Keefe suggests playing interrogation games to improve your ability to lie.
For example, you can ask a friend to roleplay as a suspect and interrogate them. Practicing regularly in a low-risk environment will help you understand when to lie. It will also improve your ability to see if the person you are interrogating is being truthful. Try it! It’s a fun and educational practice that aspiring PIs truly benefit from. If you want to take things up a notch, you can even try enacting a lie detector test. It’s a fun, yet highly educational activity.
You Need To Be Strategic
Experienced private investigators in Tulsa, OK, don’t just get far because of their skills. Strategy is a big part of their game too, and they take years to develop it. Dr. Tinsley Keefe wants PIs to think of strategy as an art. It’s something that you master from the beginning of your journey and continue to work on it. But how does one do that, you ask? Well, you can start by simulating interrogations. It’s arguably the most effective way to learn how to lie to suspects while catching their fabrications, too.
Consider doing multiple interrogations with different people to apply different tactics. Doing so can help you understand different personalities, helping you make your tactics more versatile. Some detectives even believe these activities can help you when performing background checks.
Lying Doesn’t Come Without Risks
Dr. Tinsley Keefe reminds PIs that while lying is part of the job, you need to accept the risks, too. You shouldn’t just go about lying because you can. Consider the possible risks and consequences of said lie. If it’s too risky, then consider the reward and make your judgment accordingly. It’s all about using your instincts. Sure, you might fumble or make incorrect judgments initially. With time, you will learn from those mistakes, helping you spot the ideal time to use a lie to your advantage.
Become a Human Lie Detector
Some PIs are so good at catching suspects lying, they rarely need a lie detector test. I may be hyperbolic, but I truly believe you can become that good. When you learn to lie, you also start to notice when people are not truthful. You begin to notice telltale signs that give people away. For some individuals, it could be eye twitches, while others might scratch their hair. You may also come across people who might avoid eye contact when lying.
Once you notice these patterns, you can press people further. More often than not, doing so will help you arrive at the truth. The ability to notice telltale signs of lying can also help you become more effective in polygraph private investigations.
You Don’t Need To Go Overboard
Experienced private investigators in Norman, Oklahoma, maintain a fine balance between telling the truth and fabricating things. The last thing you want is to go overboard because it will bite you back very quickly. Dr. Tinsley Keefe is familiar with hundreds of cases where detectives paid the cost of lying too much. Some of them lost high-profile cases, while others lost their careers.
It’s All About Consistency
You need to be super consistent when applying any deception tactics. One small mistake and you will pay the price for it. Dr. Tinsley Keefe strongly recommends memorizing any falsehood you come up with by heart. It should feel like second nature when you are interrogating someone. Private investigators in Edmond, Oklahoma, must also concoct their stories within legal boundaries. Why? Because it could effectively end your investigation and damage your career.
I hope you found Dr. Tinsley’s advice helpful. If you want to learn more, please visit our website. You can also send your queries to Vivian@ojpslegal.com. Our team is always ready to help you out.
