BIG Background Investigations Group, LLC

Who is BIG?
Background Investigations Group, LLC (BIG) is a state-wide network of current and former law enforcement officers dedicated to conducting high quality pre-employment background investigations.

What Does BIG Do?
BIG is in business to provide competent, reliable background investigations to law enforcement, fire service, and municipal government (as well as health care, educational and corporate communities) using procedures grounded in federal and state laws and the Administrative Rules of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).

Working closely with MCOLES, we have developed investigative principles, standards and methods used to capture information required to determine the “moral character” of a candidate as required by State law. 

We are licensed, bonded and insured.

The Importance Of Background Investigations
Municipalities lose millions of dollars each year as a result of not conducting proper background investigations.  Behaviors that should have been discovered during a proper background check, but were not because of poor investigations, have lead to disastrous litigation.  In addition, a department may have to deal with a poor hire for decades.  Past behavior is a true indicator of future behavior.

Why Use BIG?
BIG is able to conduct more comprehensive background investigations in a shorter period of time than an individual department.  Its all we do; so we get more experience doing it!

How can we do this?

v  An extensive network of trained investigators.
Our strength is in the Network of over 25 trained investigators spread geographically throughout the State.  Rather than having a department’s internal investigators travel from the southern end of our state to, for example, Iron Mountain, our investigator from Marquette can travel an hour to complete the investigation.  We believe this system will save time and costs spent on this portion of the investigation by over 80%.
 

v  An in-depth personal history questionnaire.

BIG’s personal history questionnaire was developed by first analyzing the Personal History Questionnaire of over 50 departments of all sizes throughout the country. Then our experts used this material to create the most comprehensive in the State of Michigan.

The network consists of experienced investigators who are continually trained on how to use our standardized procedures.  Our investigators are active or retired sworn police officers with over 600 years of collective investigative work prior to joining BIG, and are all members of professional groups including: MACP, ASIS, and more. 

v  Valid and reliable investigation methods.
The behaviors that BIG looks for in its background investigations are those behaviors that have been found to be the most predictive of success in Field Training Programs. 

We combine state-of-the-art investigative tools with old fashioned, dogged investigations to determine the moral character of candidates applying for positions of community trust.

Our methods include in-depth face-to-face interviews, multiples database searches, as well as telephone and mail verifications.  

Investigations start with the on-line Personal History Questionnaire, and then move into state and federal databases.  If candidates successfully pass this aspect of the investigation, a more in-depth investigation begins by utilizing phone and mail processes as well as face-to-face interviews.  Any red-flags are discussed with the department prior to continuing an investigation. 

Vision
Our vision is to grow BIG into the most respected background investigator in the country with national affiliates adhering to the same high professional standards.

BIG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Empco, Inc

Contact Information

Telephone

866-587-2650
248-726-0570

FAX

248-526-7274

Postal address

101 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 1000

          Troy, Michigan  48084

Electronic mail

info@backgroundgroup.com

 

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Copyright © 2006 Background Investigations Group
Last modified: 06/12/07