West Virginia

Michael Kidd

Our West Virginia Operation Director is Michael Kidd. Michael is a 1984 graduate of the West Virginia State Police Academy, a 400 hour course required for all police officers in the state. In1986 he graduated from West Virginia State College, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Michael worked for the Dunbar City Police Department, and then for the Kanawha County Sheriff Department from 1984 to 1987. He worked briefly as a floor detective for a local department store, then obtained a private investigator license in 1988. He has been a full time private investigator since then.


Michael completed numerous 40 hour in-service training courses, including courses in DUI apprehension, sexual assault and abuse, arson, interview and interrogation techniques, etc. He has also completed the National White Collar Crime FIPS course in 2001 in Columbia, South Carolina, and has attended one National White Collar Crime Expo in Washington, D. C. in 2002. This expo had numerous speakers from around the country on a variety of topics. He also attended a four day Surveillance Expo in Washington, D. C., again with numerous speakers who talked about the latest equipment and techniques, relevant legal topics, etc. Although West Virginia does not have a continuing education requirement for private investigators, I try to attend at least one 40 hour course per year.

Michael has testified at all levels of the court system, including administrative hearings, county magistrate and circuit court, as well as federal court. He has two contracted employees who assist with both process service and investigations. Michael has a West Virginia "firm" license, which enables him to have other investigators working.