Leadership & Expertise

OC Private Investigators delivers insurance defense investigation services built on a foundation of law enforcement experience, military discipline, Fortune 500 corporate security expertise, and federally-recognized behavioral analysis training. Our principal investigator brings credentials and capabilities that distinguish OCPI from every other investigation firm in Southern California.

David S. Boone — President & CEO

Founded by David Boone, OC Private Investigators brings more than two decades of investigative experience at local and federal law enforcement levels. We incorporate state-of-the-art investigative behavior analysis and statement analysis into each case to deliver the best results. Our methods, taught at renowned training facilities such as the FBI Academy at Quantico and the CIA at Langley, combine forensic, psychological, behavioral interviewing, and surveillance tactics to uncover the truth behind every case. We’re trusted by Insurers, attorneys, and corporations who demand precision, discretion, and results.

Mr. Boone's career began with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a law enforcement officer until being shot in the line of duty. After his recovery and retirement from law enforcement, he transitioned to the private sector, building expertise in executive protection and private investigation that spans over two decades.

Prior to his law enforcement career, Mr. Boone served in the United States Army as a Reconnaissance Scout, developing the discipline, tactical awareness, and attention to detail that continue to inform his investigative methodology today. This military foundation, combined with his law enforcement experience, creates an investigative approach rooted in operational excellence.

Corporate Security Leadership

Mr. Boone's private sector career includes significant corporate security experience with Toyota Motor Sales USA, where he served as Manager of Investigations and Manager of Executive Protection. This Fortune 500 experience provided insight into corporate investigation requirements, evidence standards for internal proceedings, and the discretion required when conducting sensitive investigations affecting major organizations.

His work with celebrity clients, government officials, insurance companies, and corporate clients has refined an approach that balances thoroughness with discretion, delivering results while protecting client interests and maintaining operational security.

Federal-Level Behavioral Analysis Certification

In 2009, Mr. Boone began studying under Dr. Paul Ekman, the renowned psychologist whose research on facial expressions and deception detection has trained FBI agents, CIA officers, and elite law enforcement personnel worldwide. Dr. Ekman's methods, featured in the television series "Lie to Me," represent the gold standard in scientifically-validated behavioral analysis.

After completing Dr. Ekman's rigorous courses with exceptional marks, Mr. Boone advanced to the Trainer Course, becoming a Certified Trainer authorized to teach Dr. Ekman's proven methods to others. This certification places OCPI among an elite group of practitioners qualified to apply and teach these federally-recognized deception detection techniques.

The 5 Channels of Communication

OCPI's behavioral analysis methodology employs Dr. Ekman's 5-Channel Communication System, a comprehensive framework for assessing credibility that analyzes multiple simultaneous information streams. This scientific approach to deception detection examines:

Facial Expressions: Micro-expressions lasting 1/5th of a second reveal concealed emotions. A Micro-expression is significant because the subject is deliberately trying to hide their emotion from the interviewer. Mr. Boone's training in the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) provides the ability to identify these micro-expressions with pinpoint accuracy, ultimately adding to the determination of a subject's credibility.

Body Language: Gestures, posture, and physical movements communicate information relevant to a subject’s state of mind during interviews. Inconsistencies between body language and spoken statements indicate areas that require deeper investigation or probing to assess credibility.

Voice: Vocal characteristics, including Rhythm, Speed, Volume, Pitch, and Tone change from the normal baseline of a subject, indicating a change in emotion and possibly deception, based on the context of what is being discussed. These paralinguistic cues provide additional data points for credibility assessment.

Verbal Style: How people answer questions being asked in regard to detail, structure, plausibility, contradictions, and flow of words. Verbal style reveals a lot about how a person is thinking and leeling, providing abundant information when assessing credibility.

Verbal Content: The words used to answer questions reveal a lot about the person's credibility. We listen for distancing language, a reduction of self-references, Impression management, present past tense errors, and verbal slips.

By simultaneously analyzing all five channels during interviews, OCPI identifies deception indicators that single-channel assessment methods miss. This comprehensive approach produces credibility assessments that withstand legal scrutiny and provide insurance carriers with actionable intelligence for claim decisions.

Facial Action Coding System (FACS) Certification

Mr. Boone successfully completed Dr. Ekman's program on the Facial Action Coding System,-an the anatomically-based system categorizing individual movements of facial muscles called Action Units (AU's) for determining precise identification of emotions appearing on the human face, specifically the 7 universal emotions: Fear, Anger, Contempt, Disgust, Surpose, Happiness, and Sadness. This added skillset gives precise identification and classification of facial expressions, durring interviews.

This specialized training supports our insurance investigations with scientific rigor unavailable from standard investigation firms. When we assess witness credibility, our findings rest on validated methodology rather than subjective impression.

Industry Recognition & Speaking Engagements

Mr. Boone's expertise in deception detection and behavioral analysis has made him a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and professional association meetings. He has delivered keynote presentations on detecting deception and reading others to numerous organizations including:

California Licensed Investigators Association (CALI) provides professional development and advocacy for California's licensed investigation professionals. Mr. Boone's presentations have educated fellow investigators on applying behavioral science to their work.

Private Investigators of California (PICA) members have benefited from Mr. Boone's training on evaluating truthfulness and credibility using Dr. Ekman's research-based methods.

American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) International represents security professionals worldwide. Mr. Boone's presentations have introduced corporate security practitioners to advanced behavioral analysis techniques.

Southern California Fraud Investigators Association (SCFIA) focuses specifically on fraud investigation, making Mr. Boone's deception detection expertise directly relevant to member interests.

These speaking engagements, combined with ongoing training programs, reflect OCPI's commitment to advancing the investigation profession while maintaining the expertise edge that benefits our insurance defense clients.

Training Programs

Beyond individual investigations, OCPI offers comprehensive training programs that enhance Special Investigations Unit capabilities and enhance Clams Examiners' education in detecting deceptive witnesses. Our Advanced Interviewing-Reading Others courses teach insurance adjusters and SIU investigators the same behavioral analysis techniques we apply in the field

Service Area Coverage

From our headquarters in Mission Viejo, OCPI serves insurance carriers, self-insured employers, and defense attorneys throughout Southern California. Our geographic coverage includes Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County, with statewide availability for complex investigations requiring extended coverage.

Our specialized services include subrosa surveillance, AOE/COE investigations, and comprehensive insurance fraud investigation supported by behavioral analysis expertise.

Partner with Behavioral Analysis Experts

The combination of law enforcement experience, military discipline, corporate security leadership, and Paul Ekman certification creates investigation capabilities that protect insurance carrier interests with scientific precision. When claim credibility matters, OCPI delivers the behavioral analysis expertise that standard surveillance firms cannot match.

Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss how our expertise supports your insurance defense needs. Contact us at (949) 777-6597 or visit our Mission Viejo office at 27201 Puerta Real Suite 300, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.