Investigators, Inc. and the DuBois family are deeply rooted in Miami’s rich history. Dating back to 1924, the professional career backgrounds of the DuBois family has flowed through the generations. Police Officers to FBI Agents, Attorneys & Judges, and a Security company partnership with George Wackenhut, this rich history is what built the foundation of Investigators, Inc. that remains today
Born in New York City in 1881, Edward L. Du Bois, Sr. was the first generation in the Du Bois family to become a specialist in the field of investigation and security. At the age of 16, Du Bois, Sr. joined the US Army and served in the Spanish American War. Upon his return, his brother Percy Maltby Du Bois, a famed Captain with the New York Police Department, urged his younger brother to join the NYPD.
Edward L. Du Bois, Jr. (1911-1968) founded Investigators, Inc. in 1955. Mr. Du Bois (pronounced DuBoys) was born in New York City in 1911 where he attended public grade school until his father retired from the NYC Police Department and moved the family to Miami Beach. He completed grade school, and graduated from Miami Beach High School in 1930, where he was President of the student body, Captain of the football team, and Editor of the yearbook.
Edward L Du Bois, III, a third generation specialist in the field of private investigation and security, is a graduate of Miami Edison High School where he played football, baseball and ran track. As a starting junior, his team was voted the number one high school football team in the nation. He was a member of the Miami All-Star PONY League baseball team that won the 1958 World Series. He went on to graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Ty Hart is a licensed investigator in the State of Florida. He handles the firm’s customer relations and marketing, and brings to the investigative team a unique background drawing from his diverse experience in both the US Air Force and professional sports. Mr. Hart spent 20 years in the military where he served as a military police officer and handled classified security matters. He retired as a Captain and maintains reserve status.
Valerie Tucci joined Investigators, Inc. in 1982. She began her career in Key West, FL, with the Monroe County Sheriff’s office working directly with Ed Du Bois, III, Sheriff William A. Freeman, Jr., and the Director of Personnel as part of an elite team tasked with developing their first Human Resources Department. Ms. Tucci is the agency’s manager, a licensed private investigator and State of Florida Notary Public. She oversees all of the firm’s administration, case management and investigations.
Sally Barr joined Investigators, Inc. in 1991. Mrs. Barr is a State of Florida Notary Public and has been a licensed private investigator in the State of Florida since 1986. From 1986 to 1991, she worked with Fortune 500 firms protecting trademark rights and coordinating investigations and seizures with the United States Marshal’s Office. She also conducted marine investigations of thefts and accidents during that time. Currently, Mrs. Barr manages all of Investigators, Inc.’s financial responsibilities.
Born in New York City in 1881, Edward L. Du Bois, Sr. was the first generation in the Du Bois family to become a specialist in the field of investigation and security. At the age of 16, Du Bois, Sr. joined the US Army and served in the Spanish American War. Upon his return, his brother Percy Maltby Du Bois, a famed Captain with the New York Police Department, urged his younger brother to join the NYPD.
Du Bois, Sr. retired from the New York City Police Department in 1924 and moved his family to Miami Beach, FL where he became the Head of Security at the Rooney Hotel & Casino. He instilled a life-long interest in security and investigation in his son, Edward L. Du Bois, Jr., who became an attorney, judge and FBI agent and formed Investigators, Inc. This dedication to security and investigations continues today through Ed Du Bois, III and Ed Du Bois, IV.
Edward L. Du Bois, Jr. (1911-1968) founded Investigators, Inc. in 1955. Mr. Du Bois (pronounced DuBoys) was born in New York City in 1911 where he attended public grade school until his father retired from the NYC Police Department and moved the family to Miami Beach. He completed grade school, and graduated from Miami Beach High School in 1930, where he was President of the student body, Captain of the football team, and Editor of the yearbook. Without taking an undergraduate degree, Du Bois then attended the University of Florida School of Law, and received his LL.B in 1937. At law school, he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal scholastic fraternity, served as Captain in the ROTC and was President of four groups: Chi Phi Fraternity, the University Glee Club, the YMCA, and the Florida Players. He also served as student minister for Congregational churches in Florida and Georgia from 1931-1934.
From 1937 to 1939, Du Bois, Jr. was an Associate Attorney with Shutts & Bowen in Miami. He was also a Municipal Judge in Surfside, Florida from 1938-1939. Du Bois joined the FBI on February 6, 1939, and began a fifteen-year career in cities all over the country. He was a counselor for the forty-ninth session of the FBI National Academy, attended FBI Police Instructors School, Traffic School, and Inspectors School. Finally, he conducted police and traffic schools throughout Florida for two years until February 6, 1954, when he resigned from the FBI.
Du Bois, Jr. then practiced law with George Bolles, former FBI agent and partner, and Edward F. Boardman, a law school roommate. In June of 1954, Du Bois, Jr. formed a partnership named Special Agent Investigations with A. Kenneth Altschul, William Stanton and George Wackenhut. This partnership lasted through 1955, at which time Du Bois, Jr. started Investigators, Inc. and broke off on his own. Du Bois, Jr. used his experience as an Attorney, FBI Agent and Judge to form the foundation of high professional standards that still characterize this firm today.
Ed Du Bois, III is a third-generation specialist in the field of security and investigations based in Miami, Florida. He is known by his fans as “The Country’s Best Detective” and has been the subject of many books, newspaper, magazine articles and news shows. Ed Du Bois is portrayed by three-time Academy Award nominee, Ed Harris, in the Paramount film titled Pain and Gain (2013) directed by Michael Bay and starring Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg. A ssongwriter and musician, Du Bois has written over 100 songs. His latest single ‘Pain and Gain – Retribution Song’ was released on March 1, 2013 and serves as an homage to his client, friend and true-life vicitim of the Sun Gym Gang, Marc Schiller.
Ed is a graduate of Miami Edison High School where he played football, baseball and ran track. As a starting junior, his team was voted the number one high school football team in the nation. He was a member of the Miami All-Star PONY League baseball team that won the 1958 World Series. He went on to graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Officers Training School where he served as a Pilot. He is a 1974 graduate of the International Institute of Polygraph Science and is an expert in both State and Federal court.
Du Bois, III began his investigative career in 1960 when he joined Investigators, Inc. and became the youngest licensed private investigator in Florida. He was trained by his father in all aspects of investigation and security. Upon the death of his father in 1968 he took over as President and continues in that capacity today. Also in 1968, Du Bois became the National Football League’s Security Representative in Miami and continues in that capacity as well, currently in his 44th season.
Du Bois, III has conducted investigation and security consulting for other major league sports as well, including hockey, baseball, basketball and auto racing. In the private sector of his business he has represented a wide variety of clients including banks, insurance companies, law firms, public utilities, credit card companies, stock brokerage firms, airlines, developers, and hotels.
In the public sector, Mr. Du Bois’ clients have included the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami Police Department, Surfside Police Department, Bal Harbour Police Department, Golden Beach Police Department, Bay Harbour Islands Police Department, North Bay Village Police Department, Miami-Dade Schools Police, Hollywood Police Department, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and the Florida Supreme Court.
Du Bois, III was a special consultant to Monroe County (FL) Sheriff William A. Freeman, Jr. from 1975 until his death in 1989, and he was instrumental in setting up the Sheriff’s first Personnel Department. He designed the Sheriff’s first application forms, background investigation screening procedures and pre-employment polygraph testing. He also conducted internal affairs investigations, polygraph examinations and consulted the Sheriff on major crime investigations. Upon Sheriff Freeman’s election, he met with Du Bois and announced that he had inherited one of the country’s most corrupt police agencies. He retained Du Bois to clean up the Monroe Sheriff’s Office no matter what the cost. No small task, Du Bois spent every week for the next 13 months in Key West conducting this successful housecleaning. He investigated and polygraphed every deputy, every employee and every allegation of corruption in the department, a rare feat in the annals of American law enforcement.
Since 1968, Ed Du Bois, III has run Investigators, Inc. with the highest of professional standards making it one of the most respected private investigative firms in the United States.
Ty Hart is a licensed investigator in the State of Florida. He handles the firm’s customer relations and marketing, and brings to the investigative team a unique background drawing from his diverse experience in both the US Air Force and professional sports. Mr. Hart spent 20 years in the military where he served as a military police officer and handled classified security matters. He retired as a Captain and maintains reserve status.
In the private sector, Mr. Hart was a faculty member at four universities. He has worked with three National Basketball Association teams: the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. He was the Head Basketball Coach with the USA Basketball team, where he represented Jamaica, Morocco and Senegal during international and Olympic competition. Mr. Hart has also served with nonprofit agencies as a Vice President with the Urban League of Broward County, Director of Development at Camillus House, and the Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors, based in Washington, DC.
