Call Us in South Bend, IN.
(574) 233-9380
Call Us in Saint Joe, MI.
(269) 930-3015
Call Us in Tampa, FL.
(656) 238-2660
About Brett Coppins
Brett has over 35 years of investigative experience, including time as a police detective and later as a private investigator, with 7 of those years overlapping. As a police detective, he spent 17 years in the Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.), 14 dedicated to investigating Major Crimes. During those years, he was assigned to investigate more than 100 criminal cases each year, including theft, fraud, burglary, rape, arson, aggravated assault, robbery, bank robbery, and homicide. He received numerous awards and commendations for solving complex cases and maintained a conviction rate of over 99%.
It was the 1988 murder of his own brother, Jonathon, in South Bend, Indiana, that gave Brett a deep personal understanding of the pain and grief felt by families of murder victims—an uncommon perspective for any investigator. That tragic event profoundly changed him, instilling a drive to understand why people commit violent crimes. While he grieved silently and privately for many years, that loss fueled his dedication as a detective. His passion for understanding violent crime led him to attend more than 20 specialized investigative training schools, earning multiple certifications across various areas within investigations.
After 1988, he spent the rest of his career working to master investigative strategy, criminal investigations, criminology, human behavior, and interview & interrogation. Over the years, he conducted thousands of suspect interviews, many with violent offenders. Each interview was approached as an opportunity to understand the individual and, more importantly, how and why they committed their crimes. His 35 years of criminology (studying crime, its causes, consequences, and prevention) deepened his expertise in human behavior, investigative strategy, criminal investigations, and crime prevention.
By 1997, Brett began to recognize a service gap when he noticed that police departments often couldn’t assist businesses with in-depth corporate investigations or security consulting due to a lack of resources. Additionally, investigators had no authority to help individuals with personal civil matters. To bridge this gap, he obtained a private investigator’s license that year and founded Coppins Investigations, Inc.
Over the following years, he continued to serve the Elkhart community as a detective while building on his martial arts background by advancing his black belt rankings and also becoming a S.W.A.T. officer. At the same time, he began taking classes in business, attended dozens of business and leadership seminars, read hundreds of books, and studied thousands of recorded trainings on business, management, leadership, communication skills, branding, marketing, and human behavior. As his knowledge of business expanded, so did his business. Once he reached 200 private investigations a year, he decided to leave police work.
He retired in 2006 and rebranded his business as Coppins Investigative & Security Group, Inc., providing civil and criminal investigations to individuals and companies in the private sector. His agency investigates more than 500 criminal and civil cases annually, serving individuals, families, law firms, and businesses.
Brett accepted a contract in 2008 to serve the U.S. Department of Defense as an International Police Advisor and was assigned to Iraq. He was promoted twice—once in 2009 and again in 2010—ultimately serving as a Senior Criminal Investigations Advisor directly to the U.S. State Department. His primary role was as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), training, mentoring, and supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces in criminal investigations, human behavior, and interview and interrogation.
After completing his final contract and returning from Iraq in early 2011, Brett resumed his mission of providing individuals and businesses in the private sector with the highest level of investigative support and security consulting.
While proud of his accomplishments, Brett attributes his success to four key influences: his first training officer in Benton Harbor, his father’s example of hard work, the specialized training he received, and the senior detectives and officers he learned from over the years.
About Us
Coppins Investigative Group (CIG) provides personalized private investigation services, surveillance services, and nationwide background research with a strong reputation for professionalism, discretion, and results. Licensed in both Indiana and Michigan, our agency is headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, with satellite offices in Granger, Elkhart, Valparaiso, and Saint Joe, Michigan.
Whether we’re conducting surveillance, locating individuals, assessing threats, or verifying critical information, our work is always thorough, court-ready, and guided by decades of experience. We proudly serve individuals, businesses, attorneys, and organizations seeking trusted, ethical investigative solutions.
SERVICES
Whatever information you might need, but don’t have the expertise to handle on your own, give us a call. You can rest assured that when we’re on the case, you’ll receive the absolute best results possible.
Our Commitment to Exceptional Service
With 28 years in business, Coppins Investigative Group understands that when you come to us, it’s because something important is on the line—your business, your family, or your future. That’s why we approach every case with urgency, discretion, and respect.
From the moment you reach out, you’ll speak directly with a licensed investigator—not a receptionist. Founder and President Brett Coppins personally oversees each investigation, ensuring your concerns are heard, your questions are answered, and your case is handled with the highest level of discretion, care, and integrity.
With more than 35 years of investigative experience, we don’t just provide services—we pursue truth. Every case we take on is guided by a clear mission: to seek the truth, deliver clarity, and give our clients the confidence to make informed decisions as they move forward.
At CIG, we believe truth is power—and it’s our job to help you find it.
Private Investigations
Private investigations done right—the first time.
Proven Investigations. Professional Results.
From internal theft and fraud to missing persons, surveillance, and locate services, our investigators uncover the facts across a wide range of cases—professionally and affordably.
Whether it’s general assistance or a complex, highly sensitive matter, we’ve handled it. If you can imagine it, there’s a good chance we’ve already investigated it—and delivered results.
Private Investigations You Can Rely On. Facts You Can Use.
Private investigations aren’t about guesswork—they’re about facts and proof.
Backed by decades of investigative experience, Brett Coppins and his team deliver professional, results-driven investigations for attorneys, businesses, and individuals who need the truth—clearly documented and reliably presented.
Whether it’s a sensitive domestic issue, a corporate concern, a missing loved one, or simply someone you need to locate—we uncover what others miss and present the truth with clarity and discretion.
Private investigations done right—the first time.
Clear evidence. Detailed reports. Results you can act on.
Common Services Include:
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General Surveillance
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Missing Persons Investigations
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People Locating & Skip Tracing
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Witness Location & Interviews
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Fraud & Internal Theft Investigations
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Assets & Financial Backgrounds
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Concerns About a Spouse’s Behavior
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General Assistance
Need Answers? Let’s Talk Confidentially.
Nationwide Database Research
Our researchers offer a wide variety of nationwide database research services to clients of all backgrounds and needs. Business owners, professionals, and individuals. If you need information that isn’t available to the public, or if you simply don’t like navigating the internet, let them do the research for you. Our ladies combine their passion for online database searching, with our agency’s credentialed access to the largest database, which is a nationwide clearinghouse of more than 80 billion different databases, all in one. They dig, so you don’t have to.
On any given day, they may be asked by people just like yourself, to do many different types of research. One moment they could receive an email from someone requesting a nationwide search to locate a client, a witness, an old classmate, or even a long-lost friend. Then another client may request a search for nationwide criminal or civil records for preemployment, a potential new business partner, or something as simple as a daughter’s new boyfriend. The next minute they could be asked by a widget maker, who wants to expand to the east coast, to search for more information about the current competition there, and some background on that company and the owner. Then, still another person, who is a mature adult, needs help searching for the best bicycle seats for a man over 75. I hope you’re getting the picture. Our ladies love helping people and they love database searches and analyzing information. No request it too small.
We charge an affordable hourly rate of $85 per hour, with a one hour minimum, then charging in six-minute increments after that. A simple, straight forward rate, which covers their time and the database access fees. Simple and fair with an agreed upon limit set by you. Many of our searches already have a fair, affordable, flat rate.
So, if you need research done, and you’d rather delegate that work to someone who loves research and analyzing information, and who has access to the most powerful all-in-one database in the nation, contact us. Let one of our ladies remove the headaches associated with trying to navigate the world wide web, while allowing you to do more productive things. We get fast, affordable results. Most times in the one day.
Consulting & Training
Coppins Investigative Group offers professional investigative services, consulting, and training solutions tailored to the needs of business owners, HR professionals, legal teams, and investigators. Backed by three decades of criminal and private investigative experience, over 27 years of successful business ownership, and a proven record of training and mentoring others, our programs provide practical tools, strategic insight, and legal clarity in real-world scenarios.
Brett Coppins has trained not only private investigators and criminal investigators, but also U.S. & Iraqi military intelligence officers—including those serving in the Middle East. With over 30 years as a martial arts instructor, his background reflects a lifelong commitment to structured instruction, discipline, and personal development—skills that shape every coaching and consulting engagement.
Internal Investigations Services and Investigative Training for Employers
Workplace internal investigations require neutrality, discretion, strategy, and investigative precision. For over three decades, Brett Coppins has personally conducted thousands of investigations involving theft.
We offer two key services:
Direct Workplace Internal Investigation Services
Objective investigations for HR and owners who need clear findings, documented evidence, and complete confidentiality. All investigations are conducted under a strict non-disclosure agreement (NDA), ensuring internal matters remain private unless the client chooses to involve law enforcement or outside counsel.
On-Site Internal Investigation Training
Practical, instructor-led training for professionals, HR, business owners, and managers who handle internal theft investigations. This program is ideal for those who wish to conduct their own investigations but want limited, expert guidance to ensure they do it right.
It covers legal awareness, documentation standards, investigative planning, and interview protocols—equipping your team to manage internal matters with confidence and professionalism. Brett Coppins also provides ongoing mentorship during active investigations, offering support only where needed so your team remains in control while staying aligned with best practices.
Private Investigator Coaching and Surveillance Training
Whether you’re just launching your career or growing a small, struggling agency, Brett offers high-impact coaching for private investigators across the U.S.
Mentorship areas:
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Branding and marketing
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Case management and office management
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Surveillance skills and ethical boundaries
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Evidence documentation for court-admissible reports
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Client communication and expectation setting
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Scaling your agency and building referral networks
Why Choose Us
If you’re looking for training, insight, or investigative support from someone who has spent a lifetime doing the work—on the street, in the courtroom, and behind the scenes—I’m here to help. Whether you’re securing a facility, building an investigative career, or managing sensitive workplace issues, I’ll deliver the same level of professionalism and commitment I’ve held since the beginning.
— Brett Coppins
Founder, Coppins Investigative Group, Inc.
Based in South Bend, Indiana | Serving Clients Nationwide
Surveillance Backed by Experience. Proven by Results.
Proven Surveillance. Professional Results.
Trained by the DEA and the Chicago Police Department’s Organized Crime Bureau in 1987, Brett and his team deliver courtroom-ready video, photographic, and written evidence for attorneys, businesses, and individuals who need the truth—documented properly and presented professionally. From suspected personal injury fraud to domestic and child custody cases, they get the footage others miss.
Surveillance You Can Trust. Results You Can Use.
Surveillance isn’t just about watching—it’s about proper documentation. Backed by elite federal training and decades of real-world experience, Brett Coppins’ Investigative Group delivers courtroom-ready surveillance that attorneys, businesses, and private individuals can rely on.
Our founder, Brett Coppins, began his surveillance training in 1987 under the guidance of the DEA and the Chicago Police Department’s Organized Crime Bureau. That same foundational training fueled his leadership in undercover narcotics investigations and eventually led to the launch of his private investigation surveillance services in 1997. Since then, he has not only conducted thousands of hours of successful surveillance operations but has trained numerous investigators across the country—drawing from the same principles of discretion, integrity, and precision that shaped his own career.
Whether you’re a business owner or attorney investigating a suspected personal injury claim, or need documentation for a domestic or child custody case, our team produces detailed, time-stamped video and photo evidence—backed by clear, consistent reporting that holds up in court.
When the truth matters, trust the team with a track record that speaks for itself.
Need Surveillance You Can Trust?