2009 Investigative Excellence Award

The 2009 Investigative Excellence Award was presented to M. L. Elrick & Jim Schaefer, Detroit Free Press for their investigation into the Kwame Kilpatrick case.

M.L. Elrick, 42, is a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter. He started his career in 1992 at the Concord Monitor, where he covered New Hampshire government and politics. In 1997, he became enterprise reporter at the Daily Southtown in Chicago. Elrick came to the Free Press in 1999 as the obituary writer, then covered Macomb County courts and government and Detroit City Hall. While at the Free Press, he became the world’s pre-eminent expert on the early life of Eminem, uncovered widespread abuse of a confidential law enforcement database and exposed rampant wrongdoing by Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and members of his administration. In 2006, he became an investigative reporter at WDIV-TV/Channel 4, where he exposed lawmakers who were lawbreakers and revealed how administrators at Eastern Michigan University tried to cover-up up a murder on campus. Elrick returned to the Free Press in late 2007 as an investigative reporter, where he and colleague Jim Schaefer uncovered Kilpatrick’s text messages and secret deal. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in Detroit.

Wayne Bullen presents M.L. Elrick & Jim Schaefer with the 2009 Investigative Excellence Award.

2009 Professionalism Award

The 2009 recipient of the Professionalism Award is Bruce H Hulme.
Bruce H Hulme, CFE, founding member and director of government affairs of Investigatvie & Security Professionals for Legislative Action (ISPLA), has served as president, member, chair and liaison to several professional associations such as NCISS, ALDONYS, and IASIR for more than 30 years.  Hulme serves as the sole board member representing private investigators of the International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators (IASIR).

Hulme has served as a member of the advisory board of John Jay College of Criminal Justice.  In 1999 he was appointed by former New York Governor George E Pataki to serve as a member of the New York State Security Guard Advisory Council.  He is co-editor and a major article contributor of the ALDONYS Spotlight among other publications.  He authored the first chapter of the book Corporate Investigations entitled the “Corporate Investigations and the Fair Credit Reporting Act” published by Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company in 2000 and 2002.

Hulme helped draft a provision of the federal Drivers’ Privacy Protection Act of 1994.  He testified before the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the private investigation industry’s position on consumer information privacy.  His participation helped create the record that formed the basis of the FTC’s analysis of computer database services.  He has lectured extensively on state and federal regulatory and legislative matters.

 In 1964, Hulme was granted a license by examination as a private investigator in New York. Now engaged full time in handling legislative and regulatory matters for ISPLA on behalf of the investigative and security professions, Hulme is semi- retired from the investigative field. He is president and founder of Special Investigations, Inc.

Al Cavasin presents the Professionalism award to Bruce Hulme

2008 Professionalism Award

The 2008 recipient of the Professionalism Award is Russell J. Rheaume.    Russ Rheaume, is the president of the Special Inquiry Company, has been doing investigations for over 40 years.  He began in 1969 in the Workers Compensation Department at Detroit Diesel – General Motors Corporation investigating injury claims and still specializes in this today.  He has an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Schoolcraft College, a B.A. in Psychology from Wayne State University, and a Master Candidacy in Developmental Psychology from Oakland University. 

Russ taught for several years at Henry Ford Community College.  His Criminal Justice Class was called ‘Techniques of Private Investigation’.  He also has guest lectured at several universities and professional seminars on investigative topics such as Surveillance, Pretexting,  Missing Person Locations,  Domestic Investigations and Activity/Background Investigations. 

Russ Rheaume has been Vice President, Sgt. of Arms, a Board Member and is currently a Member of the Michigan Council of Private Investigators.  Russ is also a Member of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services.  He has had continuous, up to date training in all phases of Private Investigation through seminars, conferences and on the job experiences. 

2008 MCPI Investigative Excellence Award

The 2008 MCPI Investigative Excellence Award was given to Daryn G. Rollins. As Director of Operations / EPS for Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations Michigan Region, Mr. Rollins duties are to over see all operations in Michigan, Northern Ohio, Indiana, these duties also include Executive Protection, Surveillance, Under Cover operations, Theft, Cargo Loss, Food Security, Computer Forensic and Violence in the Workplace and Physical Security Assessments and Emergency Management.

Mr. Rollins was employed by AirTouch Cellular as Corporate Protective Services Eastern Region. Mr. Rollins operation focus was employee Safety, Bomb Threats, Inclement weather, Violence in the Workplace, Physical Security and Theft and Emergency Management. Mr. Rollins expanded his experience with the Federal Government Civil Service to include Dept. of Defense, EEOC, Dept. of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, USAFR and the Macomb County Sheriffs Department Marine Division.

Mr. Rollins is a graduate of Central Michigan University Center for Public Service, Emergency Management Institute, Michigan State Police/ Emergency Management Division, Emergency Management Institute Professional Development, Distinguish Graduate of the R.L. Oatman Executive Protection Specialist School, Baltimore, Maryland, and most recently a graduate of the FBI Detroit Academy.

Mr. Rollins has served on various international boards to include the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Industrial Fire and Safety Security Leadership Team. Michigan INFRAGARD, American Society of Industrial Security, Michigan Council of Private Investigators, Michigan Assoc. of Chiefs of Police, International Assoc. of Police Chiefs, Fraternal Order of Police, FBIDCAAA.

2008 Pinnacle Awards:
The Michigan Council of Private Investigators Pinnacle 2008 Award was received by Senator Alan Sanborn and Representative Barbara Farrah.  They were recognized for making a difference in the investigative profession and assisted in the signing of HB 5274 – PA 146’08.

MCPI President Frank Zolik (left), Representative Barbara Farrah (center), and Peter Psarouthakis represent Representative Farrah with the MCPI Pinnacle Award.	Senator Alan Sanborn (left) receives MCPI Pinnacle Award, and Linda Milam (right) MCPI member.