Jim’s investigative background began in the 1960’s when he joined LAPD and went on to complete a distinguished 25 year career. During that time, he served on countless assignments for every major LAPD division, including but not limited to, Patrol, Vice, Metro, Narcotics, Intelligence, Prison Gangs, and ultimately retiring out of Robbery Homicide as a Detective III. After joining the department, Jim quickly promoted to undercover and plain clothes assignments, spending only about 1 of his 25 crime fighting years in a uniform.

During that colorful career, he commanded undercover operations that extended for years at a time. In addition, he became one of the foremost leading experts in the country on prison gangs (before the prominence of street gangs) back when they controlled much of the crime on the streets. He served as an instructor for the California Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, the California Department of Corrections, as well as the LAPD too. His experience and expertise is vast.

In May 1994, Jim conducted seminars by special request from the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General in Los Angeles. These seminars were conducted for management representatives and attorneys from all State of California agencies, Statewide, addressing a wide range of tort/civil issues, such as sexual harassment, wrongful termination, premises liability, workplace violence/security, incident investigation, and defense of numerous types of legal actions.

The Basic Investigation and Defense of Lawsuits Seminars was requested and presented by the three Supervising Deputy Attorney Generals in charge of the Los Angeles Office. Jim was the only private sector representative invited to instruct at these seminars.

Jim has been an active member of numerous state and national investigative associations. He has additionally been featured on a number of television shows (such as “20/20”, Geraldo Rivera, etc.) as both a police officer and as SECO president. 

Jim has been interviewed extensively by both print and broadcast media on civil and crime issues facing Southern California.

The SECO teams' Director of Operations and head of the public relations is Jim's wife, Gwen.  She has an extensive background in community relations, politics, and in fact Gwen is the source of SECO's extremely close ties with the community and its activities and affairs.  Gwen was born and raised right here in Los Angeles.  She spent many years managing law offices and then moved on to a career in real estate before opening SECO's doors with Jim after he retired from LAPD.  These areas of expertise have provided invaluable insight and resource to the SECO team. 

However, her real strength is her involvement in numerous organizations that effect and impact the local neighborhoods and community.  There are far too many organizations to name for which Gwen has either been integrally involved or in direct charge.  She has been a member of the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce for over 12 years, already serving as President and Honorary Mayor.  She continues to sit on the Chamber Board of Directors and is very active in the Education Committee involved with 25 local public and private schools. She is an active charter member of Playa Sunrise Rotary Club and is a Past President of Rotary District, as well as a Paul Harris Fellow. Gwen has organized and participated in an infinite number of community service projects that have created an invaluable and positive impact on the community.   Her devotion and altruistic nature were recently recognized with the receipt of the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Natioanl Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Hall of Fame.