Trident Investigtive Service

What Trident Investigtive Service does

Trident Investigative Service, Inc. is a privately held, founder-led professional services firm founded in 1991 by Michael J. Canaan, CPP, a board-certified Security Management professional. The firm is headquartered in Kent, Washington with a secondary office in Sandpoint, Idaho, and serves law firms, insurance carriers, corporations, and private clients primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Until January 5, 2026, the firm also operated its wholly owned Contraband Detection Canine Services (CDCS) division, which was divested to longtime team member Ryan McKenna and now operates independently as Contraband Detection Canine Service, Inc.

The firm's remaining service portfolio comprises three core lines: (1) forensic security expert witness testimony in premises liability and negligent security litigation in federal and state courts nationwide; (2) security consulting and risk assessments across aviation, entertainment, hospitality, retail, distribution, manufacturing, maritime, residential, and event-planning sectors; and (3) professional investigative services including surveillance, due diligence, witness interviews, and background research. Trident's underlying technology is human-expert-driven rather than software-driven, anchored by the founder's credentials (CPP, ASIS International), board-recognized professional memberships (ASIS, World Association of Detectives, ATAP, Pacific Northwest Association of Investigators), and a multi-license regulatory footprint (WA Private Investigation Agency License 178, DEA, WA Board of Pharmacy, VA Veteran-owned Business certification).

The business model is professional services on a quote-based, individually negotiated engagement basis with terms, scope, and fees established per engagement. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through direct consultation, supported by reputation-driven referrals from the legal and insurance communities and content marketing via the firm's security-expert-witness blog and the founder's LinkedIn profile. Customer logos include prominent national law firms (Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, Betts Patterson & Mines, Anderson Julian & Hull, Barokas Martin & Tomlinson) and major insurance carriers (Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, Cincinnati Insurance, Capacity Insurance). No publicly disclosed pricing, headcount, or revenue figures are available.

Name

Trident Investigtive Service

Legal name

Trident Investigative Service, Inc.

Website

https://tridentseattle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trident Investigative Service is a privately held, founder-led professional services firm providing forensic security expert witness testimony, security consulting, and investigative services to law firms, insurance carriers, corporations, and private clients, primarily in the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security Consulting & Investigative Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigations & Background Screening Services (IMAIAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Explosives & Narcotics Detection K9 Services (BPAKAKAA), Firearms/Weapon Detection K9 Services (BPAKAKAJ), Maritime & Port K9 Security Services (BPAKAKAE), White-Collar Defense & Investigations (BPAHAAAJ)

Keywords

• Security expert witness
• Premises liability investigations
• Security consulting services
• Professional investigative services
• Negligent security analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Security Expert Witness Services: Forensic security analysis and expert witness testimony in negligent security and premises liability litigation. Services include case evaluation, site inspections, record review, expert report preparation, deposition preparation and testimony, and trial testimony. Professional service engagement with law firms and insurance companies.
2. Security Consulting Services: Security assessments, risk evaluations, and advisory services for corporate, aviation, entertainment, hospitality, retail, distribution, manufacturing, maritime, residential, and event-planning clients. Includes physical security testing, penetration testing, policy reviews, and vulnerability identification.
3. Investigative Services: Professional investigative services for attorneys, insurance carriers, corporations, and private clients. Services include fact development, evidence gathering, surveillance, witness interviews, background research, due diligence inquiries, and documentation of activities, conditions, and events.
4. Contraband Detection Canine Services: Detection canine deployments for contraband identification, policy compliance reinforcement, and liability reduction. Includes presumptive narcotic field testing capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Trident Investigative Service is a professional investigative and security consulting firm providing forensic security expert witness testimony in premises liability and negligent security litigation, security consulting and risk assessments for corporate and institutional clients, professional investigative services (surveillance, witness interviews, due diligence, background research) for attorneys, insurance carriers, and corporations, and through January 2026, contraband detection canine services using K-9 teams trained to identify controlled substances, alcohol, and firearms-related materials. The firm serves law firms, insurance companies, corporations, and private clients across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Product overview

Trident Investigative Service, Inc. is a professional investigative and security consulting firm offering four core service areas: Security Expert Witness Services (forensic security liability analysis and expert testimony in premises liability cases), Security Consulting Services (risk assessments, physical security testing, and security program evaluations across multiple industry sectors), Professional Investigative Services (surveillance, due diligence, background research, and litigation support), and Contraband Detection Canine Services (K-9 detection teams for controlled substances, alcohol, and firearms-related materials). The company operates offices in Seattle, Washington and Sandpoint, Idaho, serving law firms, corporations, insurance companies, and private clients throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Security Expert Witness Services Forensic security liability expert witness services providing premises liability and negligent security analysis in federal and state courts nationwide, including evaluation of security programs, policies, staffing, and industry standards. Targeted at attorneys and law firms requiring expert testimony in premises liability and negligent security litigation.
• Security Consulting Services Expert security consulting and risk management services including security assessments, physical security testing, penetration testing, and evaluation of policies, procedures, staffing, and operational controls for aviation, maritime, distribution, entertainment, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, technology, and special events sectors.
• Professional Investigative Services Professional investigative services for attorneys, insurance carriers, corporations, and private clients including surveillance, field investigation, witness interviews, public records research, background checks, due diligence, and incident documentation throughout Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.
• Contraband Detection Canine Services Professional K-9 contraband detection services for workplaces, schools, correctional facilities, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and storage facilities, trained to detect controlled substances (marijuana, opiates, cocaine, methamphetamine), alcohol, and firearms-related materials. Licensed with the DEA and Washington State Board of Pharmacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 100 premises liability cases supported with forensic security analysis and expert testimony

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Guidepost Solutions: Global security and investigations consulting firm offering expert witness, security consulting, and investigative services. Comparable to Trident in serving law firms and corporations with security expertise, though operating at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Pinkerton: Established investigations and security services firm offering investigative, consulting, and risk management services. Comparable to Trident in core investigation and security consulting offerings, though at substantially larger scale.
• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm providing forensic and litigation consulting including expert witness services. Comparable to Trident in offering security-related expert testimony, though as part of a much broader portfolio spanning multiple professional services disciplines.
• Kroll: Major security, investigations, and risk consulting firm providing expert witness testimony, security assessments, and due diligence. Comparable to Trident in offering forensic security analysis and investigative services to legal and corporate clients.

Direct peers

• Hillard Heintze: Security consulting and investigations firm providing security risk advisory, expert witness testimony, and protective services. Highly comparable to Trident in offering security expert witness and consulting services to legal and corporate clients.
• Off Duty Police Consulting LLC: Boutique security consulting and expert witness firm providing premises liability analysis and security assessments. Comparable to Trident in offering expert witness testimony and security consulting, with similar scale and niche focus.
• Protection Associates Inc: Security consulting firm specializing in premises liability and negligent security expert witness testimony. Comparable to Trident as a similar boutique security expert witness practice serving plaintiff and defense counsel.
• Witt & Associates: Security consulting firm providing expert witness and litigation support in premises liability and negligent security matters. Comparable to Trident in boutique expert witness practice serving law firms and insurance carriers.
• The Lake Forest Group: Security and investigations consulting firm providing expert witness testimony, security assessments, and training. Comparable to Trident in offering security expert witness services to legal clients.

Emerging players

• Contraband Detection Canine Service, Inc. Former Trident CDCS division, now operating as an independent K9 detection firm under Ryan McKenna. Comparable to Trident as the recently-divested K9 detection arm that served correctional facilities and maritime clients in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trident-investigtive-service-inc-

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trident Investigtive Service