BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: O’Rourke Investigative Associates, Inc.

BY ISABEL LEVATINO

Michael T. O’Rourke arrived in the First State in 1976 as an active duty airman at Dover Air Force Base and has been here ever since, noting there is “no better place to live, work, and raise a family than Delaware” and that “[he] wouldn’t rather live anywhere else.”

O’Rourke noticed a void of private investigators in Delaware and quickly jumped on the opportunity. Founded in 1998, O’Rourke Investigative Associates was on a mission to serve the diverse clientele in Delaware. With their headquarters in the heart of Wilmington’s Lawyers Row, community relationships are one of their top priorities. To a business owner, it is of utmost importance to build a good rapport with your clients, and O’Rourke has done just that. His business has accrued much success from referrals and takes great pride in the trust and transparency he has built with his clients. The team promises to give their clients what they want, in a timely fashion, at a reasonable rate. As they enter their 26th year in business, it is clear that O’Rourke Investigative Associates is a staple in the private investigation industry.

This family business was built from the ground up. O’Rourke recruited top law enforcement agents at the state and federal level to help him with his mission, and made connections with the government entities that he would later collaborate with. Operating by the motto “Trust but Verify,” O’Rourke and his team work tirelessly to gather all the facts and data to best support their clients. “We’re fact finders. When a legal issue arises that requires clarification, an investigation is necessary to obtain the facts,” he says.

The state-police-licensed business is comprised of four departments: criminal, civil, domestic, and process serving. Each team handles their own tasks, ranging from criminal defense investigations to civil tort cases, and human resource inquiries. The team at O’Rourke Investigative Associates— currently consisting of 35 employees— can more so be described as a family. They work together 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year.

This work ethic and commitment has paid off as O’Rourke Investigative Associates expanded their network by opening offices in Cape May, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lewes, Delaware; as well as Boca Raton and Orlando, Florida. Already having proven themselves in Wilmington, the company decided to dip their toes into different markets. O’Rourke explains that logical, controlled expansion is healthy for any business. It was due to their reputable service in Delaware that success was also seen in these new regions.

O’Rourke Investigative Associates is the quintessential model for family-owned and operated businesses in Delaware. The tight-knit team is most committed to protecting the community and providing all with their highly rated services. “Our highly trained and experienced staff has an extensive investigative reach and access to timely, cost-effective results that are second to none.”

Isabel Levatino served as a policy intern with the Delaware State Chamber in the fall of 2022. She is a senior at the University of Delaware majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology.