Maurice Hicks has always been driven to seek justice. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, he was deeply impacted by witnessing crime in his neighborhood and the lack of intervention. This early exposure stayed with him and eventually led to a distinguished law enforcement career, beginning as a police officer and evolving into roles in narcotics, homicide investigations and work with the FBI on high-stakes cases.
Now a private investigator, Hicks’ cases range from missing persons to fraud investigations. His ability to connect with people and follow leads wherever they take him has led to remarkable success stories, including tracking down a homeless man in the Grand Canyon.
Below, Hicks shares his journey from law enforcement to private investigations, the challenges and rewards of his work and the invaluable skills that help him uncover the truth.
What does a typical day as a private investigator look like?
It depends on the case. For workers’ comp or insurance fraud cases, I’ll do surveillance at the person’s home to see if they’re engaging in activities they claim they can’t do. I’ve seen people breaking concrete, carrying heavy loads or doing construction work while claiming they’re injured. One man walked with a cane in public but went to the gym and worked out like an Olympic athlete.
For missing persons, it’s more unpredictable. I’ve had cases where there were no phones, credit cards or electronic trails. One time, I tracked a homeless man with a large settlement to the Grand Canyon. The only lead I had was that someone had seen him get into a car heading to Utah. From there, I contacted shelters, libraries and even called in a local private investigator to help track him down.
Every day is different. It’s a mix of patience, creativity, persistence and connecting with people to uncover the truth.
What challenges do you face regularly as a private investigator and how do you handle them?
One of the greatest challenges is transitioning from a police detective to a private investigator. You don’t have the same resources and you’re often working alone or with one other person. Surveillance is especially difficult when you’re used to having a team of trained investigators. In private investigations, it’s just you, so you have to adapt.
Another challenge is access to information. As a police officer, you have access to criminal records and internal databases. In Nevada, private investigators rely heavily on public records because access to other resources is very restricted. In Maryland, there’s slightly more access, but it’s still a big adjustment compared to law enforcement.
To handle these challenges, I’ve learned to be resourceful and creative with public records and to build strong networks. Persistence and adaptability are key.
Can you share a memorable experience that highlights your impact as a private investigator?
One of the most impactful cases I worked on involved a missing homeless man who had won a large settlement. The statute of limitations on his case was about to expire and no one could find him.
The only lead I had was that he’d gotten into a car heading to Utah. I started calling shelters in St. George, Utah, but they wouldn’t give out information. Eventually, someone mentioned he might have gone to the library. I contacted the library, and while he wasn’t there, they directed me to a local investigator who found out he’d started working for a company in the Grand Canyon.
When I finally reached him, he said, “I don’t know who you are, but you must be really good to have found me.” He was able to claim his settlement, but two weeks later, he disappeared again. I had to track him down a second time, and eventually, I found him.
This case took eight days the first time and involved following every possible lead. It was incredibly satisfying to resolve it, especially given the stakes.
In the video below, Hicks talks about how he located a missing homeless man who had won a large sum of money, as well as advice for those looking to become private investigators.
What unique skills or tools are essential for success as a private investigator?
Building rapport is critical. Whether you’re dealing with people in a homeless community or in a corporate setting, you need to connect with them. People often tell me things they wouldn’t tell the police because they feel more comfortable.
Interviewing skills are also essential. Sometimes people want to give you everything but the facts. You have to know how to cut through the noise, narrow down the information and get to the truth.
Networking is another invaluable skill. As a police detective, I built relationships with other agencies and investigators, which helped me get resources and solve cases faster. I’ve carried that into private investigations by attending conferences and building connections with other private investigators.
What are the most rewarding aspects of being a private investigator?
Helping people get answers and closure is incredibly rewarding. For example, in missing person cases, finding someone and being able to tell their family they’re safe is an amazing feeling.
One case that stands out is when I found a woman who had left a rehab center. Her parents were distraught and had no idea where she was. I found her on Easter Sunday at 5 a.m. Being able to call her parents and tell them she was safe on such a meaningful day was incredibly fulfilling.
Even in fraud or insurance cases, there’s a sense of satisfaction in uncovering the truth and helping clients resolve their situations.
What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career as a private investigator?
Join professional associations to network and learn about different specialties. Go online and research private investigation companies to understand the type of work they do.
Try to connect with an experienced private investigator and see if you can shadow them. I’ve had people, especially college students, reach out to me and I’ve let them observe what the job is really like.
Understand that it’s very different from law enforcement. You have no authority, so you must rely entirely on rapport and persistence. You have to push through obstacles and follow leads others might give up on. It takes a lot of creativity and determination to succeed.
