Sleuthings satisfying, seldom suave, says local private eye
 "I've never been shot or beat up....
 The gun-packing, bullet-dodging, car-chasing detectives on television have led the American psyche into believing private investigation is one brawl with a bandit or mobster after another.  Not so.
Compared to Magnum PI's .357 and his high-dollar Ferrari, local private eye Larry Vandiver makes his rounds in a shimmering white Chevy Celebrity.
And Cannon's exploits in chasing mobsters is opposite of Vandiver's adventures.      "I've never been shot or beat up.... But we (he and his partner) had a guy turn a sprinkler on us once."
     Jim Rockford's office-his Firebird-isn't akin to Vandiver's.
Decorated with awards, a resolution, a World War I helmet, a fireman's hat, maps and law books, the investigator's office is a comfortable layout with up-to-date computer technology.
With a monopoly on the licensed private eye business in the city, the Cooper man said television portrays his profession as "always thrills, chills and excitement."
"If they made a TV show about my career, it would be cancelled before the first commercial."
      But if Vandiver just had to make a comparison it would be to James Garner's portrayal of Rockford. He says he believes Rockford is "probably the best" television detective series ever made.
     TV has popularized the gun-packing image, but Vandiver says he doesn't carry a weapon. That has a lot to do with losing his license if he did. In Texas, licensed private investigators are forbidden to carry firearms.
The all-night vigils spent waiting for the bad guy to show up for the bust are not all hype.
     "I spent all night in a van one time," he said, leaning back in his chair to remember that divorce case. He watched all night to see if an estranged wife had an overnight visitor.     "The boyfriend showed up, and yes, he stayed all night."
About 20 percent
of his work
revolves around criminal matters
The case resulted in divorce court for the couple, but Vandiver classifies the spying-on-the-spouse routine as rare because of Texas' no-fault divorce statutes.
     "Most of it (investigating) isn't covert. I identify who I am and what I'm doing," he said. "Most people are willing to talk because it usually is going to help a friend of theirs."
     About 20 percent of his work revolves around criminal matters; the other 80 percent is spent on civil cases, primarily involving personal injury, contractual disputes or wrongful death suits.
Most of his work is identifying, locating and interviewing witnesses for attorneys-whether they be working for the prosecution or defense.
     "I'll dance with the one that brung me," he said.
     Vandiver's favorite pseudonym for whomever he is employed for is "my poor client." He explains that the characterization is "really a joke" and refers to the fact that he works a lot of court-appointed cases.
"because I'm cheaper than a lawyer."
His favorite case involving his "poor client" came near the close of 1988. "The complexity of it makes it interesting," he said.
It was his second go at working a capital murder case for the defense in his role of private eye. It also lent itself to fame since it was the first capital murder case in Texas to use DNA evidence-genetic fingerprinting-as a key factor.
     His "poor client" in that case had an IQ of 72 and was accused in the "brutal rape-murder" of a young woman. The trial of the "borderline mentally retarded" defendant was strengthened for the prosecution when Vandiver's client "essentially confessed."
     However, he is quick to point out that the evidence did not support the confession, which was made under "lengthy" police interrogation.
None of the DNA testing fingered his client, although genetics did convict another man in the same case.
     Through plea bargaining, Vandiver's client was sent to prison for life with parole possible in about 12 years.
     Vandiver handles most of the legwork in a case, "because I'm cheaper than a lawyer."
     His price tag is a far cry from Magnum's $200 a day plus expenses. Lawyers garner around $150 an hour, while Vandiver is paid $40 an hour plus expenses, he said.
At 43, Vandiver has amassed several distinctions. He served on the board of directors of the Texas District and County Attorney Association, Investigators Section from 1981 to 1983. He took the helm of the board in 1983 as chairman and was given the state-wide C. L. (Chuck) Dennis Memorial Award applauding his efforts as an investigator the same year. Soon after, the Hopkins County Commissioners Court signed a resolution saluting his work. A native of Greenville and a graduate of Cooper High School, he earned a bachelor's of science degree from East Texas State University.
The witness was an elderly woman who was driving a blue car.
He taught industrial education at Caddo Mills for five years before leaving to become a professional photographer for another five years.
     After that, he spent a decade working in law enforcement for county attorneys in Delta and Hopkins counties, three and six and-a-half years respectively.
     Sandiver Investigations started in 1980 between John Sands, who maintains a Commerce office, and Vandiver. The partnership became full time in 1985.
     His latest efforts have led back to the classroom. He teaches for Texhoma Regional Police Academy in Sherman and Dallas Baptist University.
He said one of the best honors came in the form of a case. "I got a 'You Done Good On' for locating a witness from three years before...and the only thing I had to go on was: The witness was an elderly woman who was driving a blue car."
     He found the witness to the wrongful death accident. "I found her and the car was green-I got lucky."

Date Published: 7/17/88 ~ Publication: New - Telegram ~ Written Under: Karla S. Ware
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