What attributes will make a successful preliminary investigation officer?

What attributes will make a successful preliminary investigation officer? (a) Knowledge – of not only the rules and regulations but also practices and procedures pertaining to the organization and prevailing at the relevant point of time. For example, if the office copy of the document is not available in the file, the preliminary investigation officer should know that it was customary for the copies of such letters to be endorsed to certain subordinate organizations or place copies in certain folders. An officer with the knowledge of the practices and procedures will manage to get copy of the letter from such sources as well. (b) Imagination – the preliminary investigation officer has to visualize where from the relevant information relating to the transaction is likely to be available and who all are likely to know about it. For example, if there is some suspicion about the family details of the employee, the preliminary investigation officer should visualize that such details may be available in the attestation form, GPF advance applications, children education allowance applications, LTC claims, medical reimbursement claims, nomination forms, etc. (c) Tenacity – tenacity is the quality of possessing “never-say-die” spirit. While conducting preliminary investigation, the officer may come across several dead ends. He/she takes a clue and proceeds. After some progress, it may abruptly end without giving any definite conclusion. Preliminary investigation officer will have to pursue another thread. Even if this ends abruptly, the officer must pursue yet another clue. (d) Eye for details – “Look for the abnormal” is the catch phrase for the preliminary investigation officer.