Investigation
Rules
1. Listen to your instincts. “If in doubt, get the hell out.” (to quote TAPS)
Retreat slowly, do not run.
2. YOU are responsible for purchasing your own equipment (Digital Camera, EMF
Meter, Voice Recorder(must have USB port to download recording onto a laptop)) and uniforms. Shirts and hats must
be paid for before they are ordered.
3. Don’t be ashamed to call for help. If you DO
need help, use your radio and call a “MAYDAY” and give your location. Everyone will know where
to converge.
4.
Always wear your uniform shirt and ID.
5. Stay with your partner. Don’t go wandering off alone. There will be
only one (1) radio per team. If, by necessity, you do end up working alone (only the experienced
investigators, not trainees), make sure you keep in regular contact with other team members.
6. Make sure all battery-operated equipment
has fresh batteries and that you have extra batteries with you. Do not rely on other team members to supply your batteries.
7. Keep an ongoing
record of the investigation in a small notepad or make verbal notes / times on the recordings.
8. Show respect for your surroundings,
our clients and your team members. If a team member is carrying on a line of questioning, don't interrupt.
Confirm they have finished before you begin asking your questions.
9. You can ask for a
presence, but DO NOT provoke.
10. Do not wear any perfume or cologne.
11. No smoking, taking drugs (except the occasional aspirin or Tylenol), or drinking alcohol while on an investigation.
12. Wear a pair
of heavy, ankle-high (minimum) boots for outdoor investigations (cemeteries, old deserted buildings, etc.).
13. Adhere to the privacy of our clients. Many of our clients do not want other people
to know we are investigating their property. Unless we are released to do so, do not give out the address
where we are working. (For example, just say “we’re working at a property in Fairfax County”.)
All investigators will have to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
14. You must have your
own transportation to and from the investigations.
15. For liability reasons, no friends can tag along. Only the client
and prospective investigators will be allowed to 'observe' an investigation. Media requests/invitations will
be considered, but the final decision will lie in the hands of the Lead Investigators. All team members, prospective
investigators and observers will be required to sign a Liability Waiver.
16. Make sure the lens cap is removed from the camera.
17. Minimum investigator age:
18.
18.
There will be an Investigator-In-Training period of 3 investigations before you will be counted as an investigator.
19. Our investigations
are for scientific research...props that are supposedly already 'haunted' are strictly forbdden, (i.e., dolls, etc.)
Any toys, (rubber balls, electronic toys with flashing lights, etc.) that we use are trigger props only to get the
entity to respond by recognizing a familiar object or piquing their curiosity. Using supposedly “haunted”
dolls, etc., will be considered provoking. (See rule #9.)
20. PROBE investigators cannot be members of any other team or paranormal
organization unless it is an official PROBE affiliate or chapter.
21. Only the Lead Investigators
have the authority to book clients or media interviews, or to arrange a joint investigation with another team.
If you are approached by a potential client, media rep, etc., please refer them to the website contact page, or take
the contact information and forward it to the Lead Investigators for follow-up.
22. All members are not required
to be on all investigations; and all members may not be needed on all investigations. (Some properties are too
small for a large team effort.)
23. DO NOT, on purpose, make unneeded noises that might be mistaken for EVPs (scratching on objects,
etc.). You might think it’s cute, your team
members do not.
24. ALWAYS ACT
IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, in the presence of the client and in the company of your team members.
25. Violation of these
rules can, and has, resulted in dismissal from the team.
