Watchful Eye Investigations is a Texas based, licensed and insured company that has more than 60 years of combined experience in criminal and civil investigations. Our staff includes: former and current law enforcement officers, paralegal certified investigators, licensed polygraph examiners, Texas Supreme Court certified process servers, former police detectives, and investigators who hold Bachelor/Masters Degrees in Criminal Justice. We have access to some of the most effective LE grade databases to help give you current, and accurate information that will prove to be vital to your case. We will only assign highly trained and professional investigators to handle your case, no matter how complex your situation may be.
Steve Russo
President/CEO Steve has more than 18 years of investigations experience. He graduated from CAPCO Police Academy in 2002 and has been in the Law Enforcement profession ever since. He has extensive experience working in undercover narcotics, TABC sting operations, and criminal investigations. Steve worked as a Deputy Constable, Warrant Officer, Patrol Officer, and Marine Safety Enforcement Officer. He still holds a current Texas Peace Officer licence with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education and a Private Investigator's license with the Texas Private Security Bureau. Steve has a degree in Practical Theology and served as a youth investigator and worked with troubled juveniles for several years. He also worked for major retail chains as a certified Loss Prevention Investigator for more than eight years, during which time he investigated and prosecuted hundreds of people for shoplifting and employee theft. He has hundreds of hours of court room testimony experience, and has more than a thousand hours of police training. He is certified in crisis intervention, terrorism awareness, sex crimes investigations, asset forfeiture, identity theft, and crime scene investigations, as well as ALERRT certified (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training). Steve has owned/managed and worked with various investigation firms for several years and has a strong first hand knowledge of the complete investigative process from start to finish.
Joe Arispe
Manager of Operations Joe has over 21 years of experience in security and investigations. He has been in the Private Security field since 1991. Joe has also served in the United States Army for 7 years, and has extensive experience working in various security duties, to include investigations work, and is licensed by the State of Texas as a Private Investigator, and as a Commissioned Security Officer. Joe is a Graduate from the C.P.A. (Citizens Police Academy) sponsored by the Austin Police Department, and has also provided security and investigations for several Austin condominium residential complexes. Joe was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and is striving to continue to serve his community, his neighborhood, and the city he grew up in. He has held several positions as a security officer to include patrol supervisor, security officer supervisor, Manager, and has investigated crimes in low-income housing, bars/night clubs as well as performing background investigations for several corporations and their staff. Joe has a vast understanding on how to operate and manage companies in this industry effectively. His skill level and experience makes him a great asset to our team and helps to provide direction for future operations as Watchful Eye Investigations expands to other locations throughout the United States.
Joe Klingensmith
Chief of Investigations/Polygraph Examiner Joe has more than 25 years of experience in the law enforcement field. He holds numerous certifications and licenses. He has experience in patrol services, accident investigations, K-9 narcotics, community policing, and crime scene processing, as well as hundreds of hours in municipal, county, and district court room testimony experience. He also has extensive property crimes and crimes against persons investigative experience. He is a former Police Sergeant Detective in the Major Crimes Division. Joe is a licensed private investigator with the Texas Private Security Bureau and is also a State Certified Forensic Hypnotist and Licensed Polygraph Examiner. He currently has more than 2000 hours interview training in kinesics, analytical, cognitive and Reid techniques. He has administered polygraph examinations for the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and police departments of Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Leander, as well as conducting domestic examinations. He holds a Master Peace Officer License, Crime Prevention Certification, Electronic Evidence Collection Certification, and is licensed by the State of Texas as a Forensic Hypnotist. He is also certified by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners Office in Police-Medical Investigation of Death.
Ben Brown
Lead Criminal Investigator Ben has more than 35 years of investigative experience, in both law enforcement and corrections. Ben served 6 years in the United States Army as a Chief Warrant Officer and Aircraft Commander. He later earned a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M University, Central Texas. Throughout his law enforcement career Ben has obtained several advanced instructor certifications with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. He served with the Temple Police Department as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Organized Crime Agent, and Patrol Supervisor. He accrued more than 20 years of experience investigating both misdemeanors and felonies to include homicide, sexual assault, robbery and theft, as well as all manner of undercover drug and vice operations. Ben also served for 17 years as a Warden for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; he was actively involved in investigating gang activity, employee misconduct, introduction of contraband, and both inmate and employee grievances. He has attended hundreds of hours of advanced law enforcement classes and court room testimony. He is an FBI trained and certified hostage negotiator, as well as a certified firearms instructor. Ben has also worked in the private sector in security, loss prevention, and asset recovery.
Tony Luparello
Lead Forensic Investigator Tony graduated from The State University of New York at Albany in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Chemistry and worked as an investigator for the New York State Environmental Protection Bureau during his undergraduate career. He was appointed to the New York State Trooper academy in 1990, and has more than 20 years experience as a Microsoft certified network engineer with knowledge in, but not limited to, Stealth Mode computer key stroke capture (“Keylogging”), hard drive analysis and data extraction, virus detection and prevention, log analysis, internet research, routers, firewalls, servers and desktops. He has worked with a national team of computer engineers and perimeter/security specialists and has been utilized by the insurance industry for his expertise in computer forensics, electronic evidence collection, and insurance fraud investigations.
Tabitha Morales
Research Analyst Tabitha graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a double minor in Legal Studies and Psychology, with an emphasis on policing and crime prevention. She will also be graduating December 2010 from Texas State University with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. During her undergraduate she was an intern for the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s and worked for the Jacobson Law Firm. She has extensive experience in Arson investigations and various areas of law such as general litigation, tax law, business formation, and estate planning. Tabitha has over a hundred hours in classes such forensic science, the court and legal system, research design and analysis, investigations, corrections, legal research, report writing, drugs and crime, and white collar crime. She also has over two years of experience in municipal courts and magistration services.
Dell Noel
Privacy Threat Detection Specialist Dell graduated at the University of Phoenix in 2009 With a Bachelor degree in IT and Software Engineering. He also has 25 years of electronic technical experience. In addition to the knowledge and expertise he has in RF emissions and detection, Dell is licensed with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Dell has extensive experience working in countermeasure surveillance detection. He has over a thousand hours of training on advanced PTD equipment, and understands how and where wireless bugs are found within the confines of any home, business, or vehicle. Dell also has vast knowledge detecting phone bugs on land lines as well mobile devices.
Derry Minor
Surveillance Specialist Derry retired as a Detective with over 26 years of service from the Austin Police Department. He started his career with the Austin Police Department serving on Patrol in east/northeast Austin for 6 years earning employee of the year twice. Selected in 1991 to the Organized Crime Division where he served until his retirement. During his assignment in the Organized Crime Division, he served as a Narcotic K9 handler for 7 years and was recognized in Federal Court as an expert witness in the handling of Narcotic Detection Dogs. Derry worked on major investigations both on the local and national level. He has over 20 years of experience and considered an expert in conducting covert surveillance, counter surveillance, search warrants, recognition of narcotic use, undercover work, covert electronic and video surveillance, cell phone toll record analysis, bank record analysis, money laundering, historical conspiracies, identity theft, and working with informants. Derry worked extensively undercover resulting in arrests and convictions both at the State and Federal Level. He was assigned to numerous Federal Task Forces working alongside DEA, FBI, IRS, US Customs(Homeland Security), and the United States Attorney's Office. Derry has worked on numerous Federal Court authorized “wiretaps” including the monitoring of cellular phone conversations. He is familiar with every facet of communications utilizing cellular phones and various applications used to communicate to avoid detection. Derry has over 700 hours of training on the National Level in conducting investigations including training by the Los Angeles Police, Chicago Police, DEA, FBI, US Customs, FBI, and IRS. He has participated and assisted in safely serving over 1,000 search warrants. Derry was the lead investigator in a large internal theft ring at a National Freight Company resulting in the arrests of persons involved and the recovery of over $100,000 of property stolen from the company. He has testified in court/grand juries both at the State and Federal level. He is the a recipient of the good conduct medal for no sustained complaints or suspensions during his career, 2 Unit of the Year Citation medals, 2 Superior Citation medals, and numerous commendations. Derry has the training and experience to gather the information you need for your investigation to reveal the truth and present in court. Derry is also available as a consultant and expert witness on criminal/civil cases.
Who we are
Available 24 Hours (512) 366-9065
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Watchful Eye Investigations
"Seeing the Evidence...Revealing the Truth"
