Oklahoma Process Servers Should Not Expect Much Help from the Police

Oklahoma Process Servers Should Not Expect Much Help from the Police

            Oklahoma process servers would be well advised to know in advance that they should not expect the police to assist them with most aspects of their official duties.  Part of this can be understandable, as the police are limited both in their available resources and manpower.  Likewise, the county sheriff’s department will, for a fee, also serve papers as well.  However, there are other aspects of process serving in which one would think the police should provide assistance for process servers in Oklahoma.

            One very import aspect in a process server’s work in being able to get the papers served in a timely manner.  Sometimes businesses such as Dell Computers or QuadGraphics will intentionally lie and claim a person is not there and/or will even help an employee try to evade service.  This is not only illegal, but it is highly unethical.  However, since the companies and the people that work for them are violating civil laws instead of criminal ones, they will refuse to help.  Indeed, perhaps they have a point in not getting involved in civil laws, but the police can still have their uses and be helpful to Oklahoma process servers who are in need of assistance.

            If a process server is ever threatened with physical harm or if people – certain employees of companies such as Dell and QuadGraphics or the people inside who are being served – try to hurt a process server while he or she is performing his or her duties, then the matter turns from a civil case to a criminal one.  In this case the police can and often will come out to assist a process server who has been harmed or has been threatened with bodily injury, etc.  Their duty, after all, is to protect and to serve, and they are obligated to do so.

            Sometimes private individuals, heavy-handed security guards, and others will attack or try to otherwise inflict harm upon process servers, and the police can intervene and make arrests as necessary.  Process servers should always take great care to carry their licenses at all times and follow the laws, so that they do not find themselves in trouble instead.

            Process servers in Oklahoma should also carry copies of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Oklahoma Rules of Civil Procedure on them at all times.  Sometimes the local police have no clue about the laws pertaining to process servers and what they can and cannot do.  Process servers often have to diplomatically educate them on-site, but even then the police do not always care.  After all, they are the “police” and who is a “process server” to tell them about the laws!?  Some of the outstanding process servers at www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com have sometimes experienced this from the Edmond Police Department and others.

            As a general rule of thumb, Oklahoma process servers should still try to maintain excellent relations with the police and the departments from which they come.  While they are often less than helpful, they still have their uses, on occasion, when some people get violent.  An Oklahoma process server who knows in advance the extent to which the police will and will not help them will find that they have a much easier time not expecting too much assistance when they need it most.

       The Weird, the Wild, and the Outright Hilarious Tales of Oklahoma Private Investigators            

            Experienced private investigators in Oklahoma often see some pretty fascinating cases.  These can range from things that are dangerous to those that are just plain odd.  Here you will hear about a tale from a private investigator that might just make you laugh!

            One day a private investigator was out with his video camera watching a woman whom the insurance company had suspected of pretending to be hurt.  The lady in question was a fourty-year-old exotic dancer, and she had supposedly gotten hurt while on the job.  However, the insurance company suspected fraud, so they sent this Oklahoma private investigator out to look into the matter.

            After sitting in his car in the hot sun for some time, guess who emerged from the house?  Yes, the woman came out into her backyard.  However, apparently she was hardly far from hurt, as she began bouncing up and down on her trampoline.  This in and of itself would definitely prove, short of some new “trampoline therapy,” that she was uninjured, but the story doesn’t end there. 

What makes this story so interesting is the fact that the lady was in fact dancing in the nude!  Yes, her boobs were bouncing up and down as the private investigator caught everything on tape.  Trying to contain himself from laughing and getting slightly turned on at the same time, he could not wait to get the video back to the office.  It is believed that many people found the tape to be very interesting indeed.

Now, one might ask what kind of defense the woman would have used against this?  Trampoline therapy?  Insanity?  Who knows?  Whatever the case, the private investigator got this case solved and the woman probably had to go find another job.  The evidence against her was too overwhelming, and this shows how private investigators can often get work done that the police simply do not want to mess with.  For more weird and wacky private investigator stories, please contact the experts at Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com.

More Creative Approaches for Process Servers in Oklahoma

More Creative Approaches for Process Servers in Oklahoma

            Process servers in Oklahoma can utilise many creative approaches to serving individuals who just do not want anyone to be able to find them.  In earlier posts, the staff at Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers has noted several meritorious ways in which a process server can use new methods to get legal documents to someone.  Now it is essential to proffer a few other ways that might be of use to those professionals in the legal field.

            One cool but seldom-used technique involves a baby carriage.  Who can resist peeking out the door and seeing a baby’s little carriage right there in front of their door?  If a process server is sure to add a realistic but nonliving human-looking baby and the papers to be served inside of the carriage, the person lurking in the house just might let curiosity get the better of him or her.  It is important for process servers in Oklahoma to retrieve the carriage and the toy baby thereafter, and they should not be afraid to possibly lose the props.

            Another creative method involves the use of a well-trained dog or cat.  If the person being served is hiding out and a process server wants to verify whether or not the person in question is actually living there, a cute dog or cat just might do the trick.  By delicately placing the papers right inside of the collar of a cat or in a little carrying case underneath a dog’s neck, the pet-loving person might just take the bait.  If the dog or cat is adept at pawing at doors or meowing or barking when hearing a silent whistle, process servers will find this method even more effective.  Process servers should, however, make sure to keep a close eye on their cats or dogs, as they could inadvertently become targets of possible violence with dangerous clients.

            One trick for getting someone served can be when a process server pretends to be someone who is lost and just looking for directions – especially when carrying a small child!  Most people would probably not suspect someone with a little kid to be serving papers?  Of course, Oklahoma process servers should not use this trick when the guy or girl being served could be dangerous!

           

            These are just a few of many tricks of the trade that process servers in Oklahoma can use when trying to get people who are avoiding service to come out of hiding.  There are a variety of unique and creative ways to get the job done.  Process servers who have done a little research about the people they want to serve can find out what their weaknesses and proclivities are.  Remember that Knowledge is power!  If you are a process server and wish to join the team at Oklahoma Judicial Process servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com, please visit our website and learn how!

Process Servers With Their “Officer of the Court” Badges Can Find More Success

Process Servers With Their “Officer of the Court” Badges Can Find More Success

            Process servers in Oklahoma who utilize an “officer of the court” badge can often find more success over those who do not.  Process Servers in Oklahoma are indeed by law considered officers of the court for the purpose of serving legal papers.  Therefore, it is important to consider having a badge made from a store such as www.thefirestore.com and to keeping it handy when out on official business.  There are many reasons why this is important, as well as times when using this type of badge is not such a good idea.

            A badge which states that a process server is an officer of the court makes him or her look more professional.  While process servers do not have the same rights and responsibilities of deputies and police officers and should not present themselves as such, badges make process servers look more official.  Unless a police officer is undercover, one would not expect him or her to perform his or her duties without wearing a badge, right?  Well, process servers are no different, and a badge can often afford extra benefits and protections to a process server.

            Sometimes getting needed information from people when a client is avoiding service can be tough to do.  At other times, individuals being served might even ask process servers for identification, which by law they are required to show.  However, putting a laminated copy of one’s license inside of the holder that process servers carry their badge around in and showing it with their badge, when appropriate, can sometimes in and of itself convince people to be more cooperative. 

Most people have no idea what or who an officer of the court is or what he or she can or cannot do.  Indeed, many could care less about providing helpful information to a process server, as they often bring bad news for the person(s) they are serving.  However, an officer of the court on official business is often a very different matter. 

Individuals process servers meet out in the field might think to themselves, “What could they do to me if I don’t help them?”  Well, in truth there is usually very little that a process server can legally do.  However, they may not know that!  What other people do not know can benefit process servers! 

Additionally, even though process servers are not involved in either side of a court case, some people may not know this and/or are unable to disassociate facts from reality.  Ergo, individuals having court papers served on them may feel less inclined to want to hurt process servers if they view them as more professional and official.  While there is no guarantee either way, it is less likely that someone will want to hurt someone bearing a badge and carrying pepper spray, a stun gun, handcuffs, etc., as opposed to a process server wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

Another excellent use of an officer of the court badge comes into play when someone is skittish about opening a door to another person he or she does not know.  Having the badge and your license there with it to present to people who ask, “Who is there?” from behind a closed door can often help people feel more at ease.  Of course, it is true that some might feel scared off by those they view as an authority figure or official – especially if they are running away from the law or have a negative mindset and/or or hold stereotypes about anyone “official.”  However, wearing this type of badge or showing it from its case is not always a plausible idea.   

There are also times when wearing a badge can negatively impact an Oklahoma process server’s ability to make the serve.  One of these examples is when a process server wants the element of surprise.  If an officer of the court goes somewhere that has a population with a proclivity to be suspicious of the police, FBI, officers of the court, etc., then wearing or flashing a badge could backfire and close many doors.  It could also encourage the gentleman or lady being served to go into hiding or flee the area altogether. 

Whether to use a badge largely depends on the population a process server is around and the best tactical approach.  Wearing an official officer of the court badge can indeed have various uses and drawbacks.  They do cost money to order, but sometimes a little investment can pay huge dividends in the field.  Essentially, it all comes down to being an important judgment call and doing a cost/benefit analysis of a badge’s worth.  For more information, please contact the excellent staff at Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com.

Being a Process Server in Oklahoma is a Relatively Safe Profession: Tips and Tricks to Staying Safe and Having Fun

Being a Process Server in Oklahoma is a Relatively Safe Profession: Tips and Tricks to Staying Safe and Having Fun

            Many people have asked the process servers at Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com whether or not serving as a professional process server in Oklahoma is a dangerous job.  With a few exceptions, it is not nearly as dangerous as many people think, though few jobs come with absolutely no risk of some sort.  However, there are some very helpful tips that can prove invaluable to those who are process servers in Oklahoma, as they strive to remain extra safe while on the job.

            One of the most obvious things any good process server can do is to keep himself or herself in excellent physical condition.  If a conflict ever arises where a process server must defend himself or herself, having extra strength and an ability to run without tiring can come in quite handy indeed!  Investing in a gym membership or simply lifting weights, riding a bicycle, etc., can prove invaluable in confrontational situations.

            Having skills in basic self-defense can also prove to be very useful, as can carrying such weapons as pepper spray, stun guns, and guns, provided you are licensed, trained, and authorised to do so.  Knowing how and when to properly defend yourself is crucial, as each process server has the right to protect himself or herself from harm.  No one has the right to hurt you as an officer of the court in Oklahoma. 

Few, if indeed any, serves are ever worth a gun battle, and it is important to know when to call the police for assistance.  If someone becomes violent or verbally threatens a process server in any way, a person should take great caution and use discretion when deciding whether or not to use force.  If at all possible, contacting the city police or county sheriff’s department can resolve these types of issues, and thus it is important to have a good working relationship built up with law enforcement officials.  But wait – didn’t we say that working as a process server in Oklahoma was relatively safe?

Most people and places a process server delivers papers to are fairly harmless.  It is important to inquire in advance from your client as to any potential violent history a person one is about to serve might have.  In such cases, a process server can take extra care or can even bring along backup (i.e., a spotter).  A vast majority of cases, especially those at businesses, take place without incident.

If a person you are serving ever gets upset and mistakenly associates you as being the one who has filed the legal case, one of the best things a process server in Oklahoma can do is to try to diffuse the situation and downplay his or her role.  Such phrases like, “Hey.  I’m just the delivery boy,” or, “Think of me like the mailman.  You don’t get upset at the mailman [or mailwoman] when he brings you the mail, right?  Well, I’m not involved in this case in at all, so why be upset with me?”  These simple phrases can potentially diffuse anger, frustration, and other negative emotions people may have toward a process server who has brought them bad news.

Another effective technique to help keep process servers safe is to always let someone know where you are going to be and when.  This is just basic common sense, yet if something ever happened then someone would know where you were and when.  Keep in contact with your employer, a spouse, friend, etc.  It might be somewhat time consuming, but one just never knows when it can help you out!

Bullet proof vests are yet another idea for added protection, though these are often what most process servers would consider overkill.  Police officers often wear these to help protect them from dangerous criminals, but most or all of the cases process servers handle do not involve criminal complaints.  If a gun is involved, it is better to get police assistance than to try to handle the matter yourself.  Besides, bullet proof vests cannot stop many kinds of bullets, thus placing inherent limitations on their effectiveness.

Sometimes wearing an officer of the court badge and having your license on you can prove to be a helpful deterrent.  Having a pair of handcuffs on your belt can also help give people the impression that you are not someone to mess with.  Most people have no idea what an officer of the court in Oklahoma is – a process server – and they are more likely to focus on your handcuffs, the stun gun you are wearing on your belt, etc.

Process servers should use the aforementioned approach with caution, as doing these things could also make neighbours, colleagues, and the person you are trying to serve much more suspicious of you.  Indeed, they might choose not to answer the door, neighbours might provide less assistance, etc.  This is a judgment call that each person must make for himself or herself, and wise discretion is the key.

Sometimes the “innocent approach” is the most effective, nonthreatening method.  The less threat you pose and the more innocent, unsuspecting you look, the better the results you are often likely able to get.  If people do not feel like you are out to get them or cause them harm, they might be more likely to open the door and accept the papers.  Once again, each situation is different and requires careful discretion and careful consideration of all factors involved in the case.

Overall, working as a professional process server in Oklahoma is a very noble profession.  An outstanding process server can help speed up the justice process for people, and can even help provide legal protection from harm (i.e., serving VPOs).  The field of process serving does not have to be dangerous or something you should fear.  Your disability insurance adjustor should not increase your rate, either. 

When compared to other professions, just think of how many hardworking, dedicated, underpaid professional teachers and principals are assaulted by unruly students or parents.  Likewise, people have shot doctors who perform abortions in Oklahoma and elsewhere, so even physicians are not exempt.  Convenience store clerks and bank officials can get robbed and even killed, too.  Thus, when looking at process serving as a long term profession of choice, it’s relatively safe!