Michael R. Neihardt
2347 Shawn Road
Kalkaska MI. 49646
231-258-6180
michael@michigandetectives.com

Professional Training and Experience

        Presently:  Michael Neihardt Investigations, Michael has been a private detective for 15 years.  Mike has worked on a wide range of cases.  He has worked on murder cases, workers comp, auto accidents, dog bite, child custody, criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and a host of other cases.

       1997-2000  Westfield Insurance:  I received a great deal of training while at Westfield, now name Westfield Group.  Employed in Westfield’s Special Investigation Unit I received training in investigating workman’s comp cases, life insurance fraud, arson investigation, (I did attend a number of cause and origin classes, I am not an expert in C & O of fires) financial investigations, Reid School of Interrogation and Interviewing,  and  report writing.  It was while employed with Westfield that I earned the professional designation “Fraud Claims Law Specialist”. 

     1992-1993  Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Nation:  During the time that Mike was at GT Band Mike attended a school sponsored by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  The school was instruction in investigating child abuse and child sexual abuse cases.  The school taught methods for interviewing small children. 

     1990-1996  Team Protection and Investigation:  This is the company that Mike started just after he left the Leelanau Sheriff’s Department.  At one time Team supplied security guards at a local resort.  Security was phased out and Team became a private detective agency.  This agency was closed when Mike accepted a position with Westfield’s Special Investigation Unit.

     1980- 1988  The Leelanau Sheriff’s Department.  In late 1979 Mike was laid off from the Kalkaska Police Department and shortly afterward was hired by the Leelanau Sheriff’s office.  In late 1987 Mike resigned from the LCSD to make an unsuccessful run for the Leelanau Sheriff.  While at the LCSD Mike worked with the local schools and was the temporary Under-Sheriff between administrations.

     1978-1980  Kalkaska Police Department:  Mike worked as a reserve police officer for a year.  Then Mike was hired by KPD and sent to the police academy.  For a year Mike was a patrolman.  Budget cuts lead to the reduction of the police department force and Mike was laid off.  While at the KPD Mike did a lot of extra work in the area of crime scene processing. 

Education

  • Great Lakes Christian College- Ethics and theology
  • Northwestern Michigan College- Police Administration classes
  • Macomb Community College- Police Academy
  • Lewis University- (near Chicago) Fire Investigation
  • The American Education Institute- Fraud Claims Law Specialist

Additional Information

  • Member of local church
  • Avid Pro/ Am Photographer
  • Cross Country Skiing/ Traveling/ Camping/ Bass Fishing
  • Collecting Antique Detective Memorabilia