The Wheat Stalker

A quarterly publication of the

Kansas Association of Private Investigators

February 9, 2003

Memories of Mickey: Seeing the Inner Gitlin

In July of 2002, Mickey Gitlin, a founding member of the Kansas Association of Private Investigators died after an extended illness. He had been in the private detective business for over 50 years at the time of his death, and was active in private investigator and polygraph associations. Most people who met Mickey remember the encounter, particularly if he was an opponent on some issue at the time. He had a strong personality which was frequently described by those who did not know him well with adjectives like stubborn, dictatorial, domineering, tyrannical, aggravating, etc. These adjectives, while not completely wrong, never adequately described him. As a recent private detective (not quite 10 years now), it was fascinating to watch other people who purported to be investigators and polygraphists as they dealt with him, and to observe how many of them never saw him for what he was. The key to Mickey was to understand a little of his background and its influence. This essence was described in a story told by his son, Lee Gitlin, at the memorial service in Kansas City. The story was about the 'Inner Gitlin'.

I first met Mickey at a meeting of the Kansas Association of Private Investigators in Overland Park a few months after I started operating as a private detective. He was attired that night in a dark, 3-piece pin-stripe suit. His nearly white hair was combed straight back, and his face appeared somewhat reddish, what fancy authors like to call a 'ruddy' complexion (I think, I never was sure what that actually meant). He outlined the background of KAPI, how it started, and what it did. The story hit home with me as I had personally experienced problems with the state regulating agency during my initial licensing; actions which were both arbitrary and unnecessary. I was hooked and joined. About a year later, the KAPI Secretary changed jobs and moved from the area. Mickey asked me to take over the Secretary duties for the remainder of the year. I did this and began dealing with him much more frequently. This experience was enlightening and aggravating; Mickey was that kind of guy. During conversations and trips to various meeting or legislative sessions, we had time to talk in depth, and I came to understand where he was coming from. This wasn't easy; you had to get past the tough exterior. Our similar backgrounds in some respects helped in this.

Mickey was raised 'back east' and had that ingrained striving for verbal dominance typical of guys from 'the neighborhood' or possibly 'the street corner'. This approach doesn't translate well into the Midwest social subculture. Mickey knew this and toned it down, but never got far from his roots. He was from the WWII generation, serving as a Marine aviator in the South Pacific. He never went into a lot of detail about that, he didn't see the necessity. He had survived, and that was enough. Like a lot of WWII vets, he just assumed that everyone else had 'been there and done that' and consequently understood both the necessity for it and the marks it left. Mickey never said exactly how he got into the private detective business after the war, but he had. In his fifty years, he had worked for large national companies, with partners, and by himself. He had lived and worked on both coasts as well as the Midwest. He had been perceptively trained as a polygraph operator in the early days of its use and possessed detailed knowledge in this area. He relished telling stories of providing training to two well-known polygraphists; one later started a school that achieved a worldwide reputation and the other has a 700+ page technical book in print. Mickey's favorite expression was, "I've been in this business for forty years". It eventually became fifty; almost all as an active business participant. Only about the last five years were semi-retired.

He enjoyed golfing, bowling, shooting a variety of guns, and boating on Lake of the Ozarks where he maintained a summer residence. Those who visited in his Kansas City office saw myriad photographs on the wall of Mickey with many well-known entertainment personalities; a side of his business the local people seldom saw. His wife and family members would speak of his sense of humor, sensitivity and love of life that those outside the inner circle did not see. Mickey took pride in his family, but this pride did not lessen his high standards. Both of his sons had worked in the family private detective business, and both had eventually left it for other business activities. As his son Lee put it, "I left for the less stressful occupation of Air Traffic Controller." Mickey insisted that everything be done right, and he passed this on to those around him. His influence is best seen in the story told by his son, Lee Gitlin, at the memorial service for Mickey.

Lee is a Supervisor with the FAA and told about trying to deal with a new employee from California whom he described as a 'granola' (a save-the-whales, tree-hugger, etc. type). The newby was complaining that pilots weren't listening to him, so Lee explained to the guy that you had to put the pilot into a holding pattern over Montana and explain the facts of life to him. Lee wasn't sure whether the guy got it. About a year or so later, Lee happened to be walking down the hallway in the FAA center and passed by 'granola' talking to a recently arrived employee. The newest employee was complaining to 'granola' that the pilots weren't listening to him and 'granola's' response and guidance was, "Well, what you have to do is release your 'Inner Gitlin'". Everyone at the memorial service laughed hard; they knew exactly what that meant because they knew Mickey. He had an uncompromising ability to discern the truth, and a stubborn demand that he be treated fairly and equitably at all times. You had to get it right; common decency and respect were required in all circumstances. Phonies and double-dealers watch out; honest mistakes accepted, but must be corrected. Mickey did not hesitate to express his opinion or to hold your feet to the fire to get his due. It didn't matter whether this required 'getting in your face', getting into a legislative forum or getting into a courtroom. You were absolutely required to deal fairly, honestly, and lawfully under all circumstances. Get it right! I remember thinking afterward what a wonderful legacy it was for Mickey; he had passed on his 'Inner Gitlin'. What is the 'Inner Gitlin'? It is the quest for truth in the real world; Don Quixote on a Brooklyn street corner with the rest of the guys. Mickey's fifty years as a private detective and polygraphist had left him with an almost perfect ability to spot deception while his background as a Marine and as one of the neighborhood guys left him with the impetus to stand up to it. That was the key to Mickey Gitlin, to understanding the motivation behind the rough exterior, the 'Inner Gitlin'.

Mickey had an air of the old-time movie private eyes. I never asked why he used the name Mickey rather than Maurice; I didn't need to ask. I occasionally wondered if Mickey had been the model for Mike Hammer in the Mickey Spillane novels or whether he might have modeled himself on the them. Perhaps the profession itself simply casts you to that model. In the end it doesn't matter. Mickey was one of a kind; I miss him. Farewell to Mickey Gitlin, Private Detective, Polygraphist, Marine, and neighborhood guy. The most demanding and aggravating business associate and friend I ever had. I wouldn't have missed a minute of the experience.

John W. Ellis

Secretary, Kansas Association of Private Investigators