Both sides of the badge

A career on both sides of an investigation

John came to private investigation twice. He was a licensed private detective for 19 years before he went to the police academy, and he came back to it after retiring as a Chief of Police.

In between he served as a police officer, a detective and undercover operative, and a team leader for a multijurisdictional special response unit. He established the Southwest Regional Police Department, based in Belle Vernon, which began in 2003, and led it as chief until he retired. His master's research focused on police regionalization, a subject he has taught to local officials.

"After more than four decades working in law enforcement, private investigations, private sector security, and law enforcement and investigative leadership," he writes, "I have learned that no two investigations are exactly alike."

Before 1997
Licensed private detective
Nineteen years in private investigation before joining the police.
Observer-Reporter, 2022
1997
Police officer
Then detective, undercover operative and special response team leader.
Observer-Reporter, 2022; PI Magazine bio
2003
Southwest Regional Police Department
Established the department, which grew to serve communities in three counties, and served as its chief.
Observer-Reporter, 2016
2018
Retired as Chief of Police
Stayed on as a consultant and kept teaching.
Observer-Reporter, 2022
Today
John Dale Hartman Private Investigations
Licensed, bonded and insured, serving ten Western Pennsylvania counties.

Education and teaching

He teaches the people who do this work

A certified trainer for police, military, constables and private security personnel, John has taught at the university, college and police academy levels, and wrote copyrighted university lesson plans on room and building clearing and basic vehicle stop tactics.

MPPMMaster's in Public Policy and ManagementResearch on police regionalization
BAAdministration of Justice
AASCyber Security
PALIDirector at Large, Regions 3 and 4Pennsylvania Association of Licensed Investigators, also newsletter editor

Published work

Author, columnist and presenter

His book sets out the legal guidelines for covert surveillance in the private sector. He contributed to the Encyclopedia of Security Management on investigations, arrest authority and its limits, search and seizure protections, records and report writing, and he writes for PI Magazine as a featured columnist and staff writer.