Switching the cubicle for gun and badge

As I was rummaging through file cabinets, desk drawers and wastebaskets during the execution of a search warrant, I was surprised when I found a series of handwritten numbers written in pencil on the back of a torn cable utility envelope. What were they? After I investigated and discovered they were bank account numbers, I laughed and yelled, Yes!

The other police detectives — who were pulling cocaine, marijuana, and heroin from cookie jars, ovens and cowboy boots — stopped and just stared at me. They were gathering pounds of dope worth tens of thousands of dollars, and I was holding up a torn-up envelope I found at the bottom of a trash can. I forgot that many criminal detectives don't get as excited as I do when dealing with financial account information. However, if you're overly enthusiastic about financial fraud examinations, this column might be for you.

I once worked as a civil investigator for a check-cashing and payroll company in the private sector until I decided to be an officer and fraud examiner in a police department. Here are seven reasons I made the switch.

1. To protect and to serve

A colleague recently asked me why I now work for a police department. I gave the standard answer that almost every police applicant recites: "Because I want to protect and serve the public." Cheesy answer, but true. Most law enforcement officials join their agencies not to make money but for these principles.

When I spent several years in a private-sector job, I saw many lose money to check fraud, identity theft and Nigerian lotto scams. I assisted on several of these investigations, and it didn't take long for me to realize that I couldn't help these victims as much as I would prefer. I didn't have authority to bust down the suspects' doors or make physical arrests. I didn't even have the ability to seek proper civil injunctions. I had to rely heavily on local, state and federal authorities to do their jobs and do them well. Civilian investigators can get frustrated relying on agencies and not knowing where cases will lead.

2. Rewarding

Whether it's helping bring a fraudster to justice, pulling someone from a burning car or reviving a child who's recently drowned in a canal, law enforcement can be incredibly rewarding. I get a wonderful feeling when I help those who might be unable to help themselves. Law enforcement offers several of these opportunities that aren't readily found in other career paths.

3. Stable

For the most part, sworn law enforcement officers have stability in their careers. Police agencies invest a significant amount of money and time in training a new recruit. Domestic and international crime is on the rise, and that trend will likely continue through the unforeseeable future. And the more specialized skills an officer has or develops will increase the likelihood that he or she will continue to be employed for years to come.

4. Training

As a law enforcement official, you'll have the opportunity to attend specialized and sensitive training sessions. Of course, you'll learn the basics of policing, law, firearms, driving and defensive tactics while you attend the police academy. However, the real training only begins when you graduate and become a sworn law enforcement officer.

You might attend such anti-fraud classes as advanced data analytics, money laundering, intellectual property fraud and forensic accounting if you join law enforcement. You'll normally receive these types of training during your regular work week, which means you could be analyzing financial statements for class in the morning, shooting paintball rounds at each other in an active drill in the afternoon and serving a drug warrant at night — all in the same day. Most specialized training incorporates several agencies so you'll develop relationships with public and private sector investigators from around the world.

5. Freedom

One of the biggest and most exciting aspects of law enforcement is that you have the freedom of moving throughout your department. A fraud examiner can work the financial side of almost any criminal investigation. This means you can be an auto theft detective, a homicide detective or a burglary detective working financial investigations tied to those crimes. You can also work parallel investigations with the criminal case agents. Some departments even have dedicated detectives working civil financial cases in conjunction with criminal cases. Most criminals expect to be arrested at one point but few ever expect to be served with a civil lawsuit.

6. See some action

Law enforcement can be packed with action. Of course, you'll get those days that seem to drag on forever, but most of the time you really never know what lies ahead. This can be exciting for those who want to break free from the traditional three-walled cubical jobs.

7. Suspects don't see it coming

The most rewarding aspect of financial fraud examinations is that suspects rarely anticipate being arrested for financial crimes. A heroin dealer, of course, typically is focused on avoiding arrest for heroin sales, not for money laundering, when he deposits his drug proceeds into his bank account.

Several drug dealers simply don't seemed fazed when I arrest them on drug charges. But when I tell them I'm arresting them on a money-laundering or white-collar crime charge, the tone of the interview changes from apathetic to panic, and that's a good feeling for the fraud examiner.

Desperate need

Street criminals are adapting to contemporary policing procedures. It's become increasingly harder for law enforcement to catch them. Criminals study law enforcement just as we study them. Many organized crime organizations hire accountants to cook their financial books, hire businessmen to give false appearances of legitimacy and have lawyers on retainer when they get caught. Furthermore, the "faces" of criminals are changing from tattooed gangsters who openly display their crime with acts of violence or destruction to individual businessmen who make shady deals over a cup of coffee at a local coffeehouse.

Law enforcement agencies worldwide are in desperate need of those who can dismantle these criminal organizations. They're seeking qualified, skilled applicants like you. Despite all the recent negative publicity in the media, law enforcement is incredibly rewarding.

If you're considering this type of fraud examination, I urge you to contact local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies to arrange a "ride along" for a day and see another type of fraud examiner in action. You'll never know if you'll be happier carrying a gun and a badge and chasing fraudsters than a 9-to-5, cubical job until you try.

Joshua Lee, CFE, CCCI, is an organized crime detective for the Mesa, Arizona, Police Department. As a member of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, he specializes in financial crimes associated with organized crime and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) offenses. Lee is also an adjunct professor teaching various courses related to criminal justice, legal studies and law.  

Law enforcement personnel pivotal in investigation process

Individuals working in law enforcement are central in the investigation step of the fraud examination process, according to the ACFE. See ACFE.com/LE.

Law enforcement individuals perform a variety of tasks, such as collecting evidence and testifying in court. They might work for state or federal governments as special agents or for municipal police departments. Often, they might work undercover. The nature of work often depends on place of employment, location, size of organization and other factors. Special agents might specialize in a particular area or work in a variety of different fields.

Areas of investigation

• White-collar crime.
• Organized crime.
• Financial crime.
• Bribery and corruption.
• Money laundering.
• Counterfeiting.
• Fraudulent documents.
• Credit card fraud.

Types of services performed

• Conduct surveillance.
• Collect evidence.
• Conduct interviews.
• Record examination.

Useful skills, characteristics and subject areas of knowledge

• Writing reports.
• Attention to detail.
• Functions in stressful situations.
• Alert to surroundings.
• Understands associated risks.
• Honest.
• Sound judgment.
• High integrity.
• Responsible.
• Strong judge of character.

Education and training

• Physical examination.
• Written exam, previous experience and education factors in appointment.
• Background check.
• Personality test.
• Polygraph test.
• Drug test.
• Rigorous training program.
• Specific organizations might have specific requirements.
• Certified Fraud Examiner credential.