In 1997, Mr. Lajoie was the recipient of a National Editorial Publisher Award for his outstanding article Homicide Se Defendendo-The Investigation of Homicide in Self Defense, which was the lead article in the February 1997 addition of The Legal Investigator and in the fall 1997 Issue of Focus International. In 2000, Lajoie authored his first book about the private investigation industry as a profession, which is published and sold all over the world. Additionally, Mr. Lajoie is a contributing chapter author to Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education's January 2001 published book, Crime Scene Investigation and Discovery, which is sold to attorneys. In addition to his service with NALI, Mr. Lajoie is a charter member of the Licensed Private Detectives Association of Massachusetts where he has sat on a number of committees. He wasa recently elected a Board of Director of the LPDAM. He is also a Certified International Investigator and a member of the Council of International Investigators. He was a 2002 Nominee for International Investigator of the Year. In October of 2002, Lajoie was the recipient of the National Association of Investigative Specialists Investigator of the Year. Lajoie holds additional memberships in the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, National Council of Investigation and Security Services, National Association of Investigative Specialists, Louisiana Private Investigators Association, and the Intelligence Network. He the founding father of the Julius "Buddy" Bombet Lifetime Achievement Award Committee; arguably the most prestigious award presented within the private investigation profession world wide.
Lajoie is also considered an expert investigation Conference Coordinator, having coordinated a number of the largest and most successful investigative professional development and continuing education conferences in the country. His investigative skills are renown in his area of expertise. After learning that another attorney had hired Lajoie to do a simple DUI defense case, one of Lajoie's high profile attorney-clients commented, "It's like using a howitzer to kill an ant!" Lajoie's defense investigation of the killing of a Holyoke, MA police officer was critical to the "self defense" defense respected Attorney Peter Ettenberg developed during a high profile trial in March of 2001, and it was done in a hostile and lonely environment wrought with roadblocks. Despite tremendous obstacles, Lajoie defied the odds, overcame it, and was credited by Ettenberg with finding the only defense possible.
Four of Lajoie's recent homicide case investigations resulted in two out right dismissals, one not guilty, and one directed verdict. Lajoie is also credited with finding a family member of a client who had changed his name more than ten times, his SSAN more than five times, and who had been missing in action from the military since 1972. He has worked for high profile attorneys, celebrities, sports teams, and world famous rock bands. Lajoie also works for the homeless, defends those who are indigent, and helps prostitutes, drug addicts, and alcoholics. Lajoie considers his greatest investigative achievement as resolving an unsolved homicide case for an indigent family, pro bono, to a successful conclusion. He was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, was educated in public schools and colleges (graduating Summa Cum Laude), and now resides in Sterling, Massachusetts with his wife Susan (a good investigator in her own right) and their three children. He can be reached at 508-835-2211.
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