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NYS DOS License #11000169770 ◆ Licensed • Bonded • Insured
New York Intelligence Agency Est. 1989, NYC
David Schassler's New York Intelligence Agency. A private investigator's study overlooking Manhattan
About the Founder

David Schassler. Emmy® Award Winning Private Investigator

Investigating since 1989. One of the most respected private detectives in New York. The founder and lead investigator of New York Intelligence Agency.

David Schassler, Emmy Award winning private investigator and founder of New York Intelligence Agency
"The job is the truth. The rest is just technique." David Schassler

One investigator. Thirty five years. New York.

David Schassler founded New York Intelligence Agency in 1989 and has personally directed every significant case the agency has handled since. He's the rare private investigator whose work has been recognized with an Emmy Award, and his client list spans Wall Street firms, top tier defense and matrimonial attorneys, public figures, and the families behind some of New York's most discreet investigations.

Background

David's background spans New York police work and investigative journalism. He is a retired New York police detective, and his research for WCBS TV is where the Emmy winning work was done. Long form investigative pieces that needed the same discipline as private investigation: source development, document discipline, surveillance technique, and the patience to keep working a case long after the easy answers ran out.

That foundation. Investigative reporting at the level that wins network broadcasting's highest honor. Translated directly into the kind of private investigation practice David built. Cases at NYIA are run with the rigor of a major journalism investigation: documented, sourced, and built to hold up under any kind of scrutiny.

Practice areas

Since 1989, David has built deep skill across a specific set of investigation disciplines: TSCM debugging and counter surveillance, complex matrimonial work, corporate fraud and embezzlement investigations, missing persons cases (domestic and international), and the financial fraud investigations that combine traditional investigation with forensic accounting and asset tracing.

Recognition

Emmy Award statuette. David Schassler, New York Emmy winner

David is an Emmy® Award recipient. He served as Lead Researcher on the New York Emmy. Winning investigative report “Red Light Rabbi” (Hard News: Single Story), broadcast on WCBS TV on November 29, 2006. Alongside Chief Investigative Reporter Scott Weinberger, Executive Producer Carl Gottlieb, and Editor Pat Quinn. View the New York Emmy® record →

He has been quoted by CNBC on how to run a background check like a pro, and featured by the New York Post and Legal Leaders Magazine. His Emmy® is on record with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, New York chapter. He is a court approved expert witness on the Los Angeles Superior Court Panel of Expert Witnesses and the San Luis Obispo County panel, qualified in police practices and canine related matters. NYS DOS License #11000169770. Licensed, bonded, and insured.

Why every case is personally directed

Most New York PI agencies operate on a volume model. Junior investigators handle the actual fieldwork, the principal signs the contracts and the reports. That's not how NYIA works. David personally vets every case before it's accepted, personally directs the investigative strategy, and personally signs every final report. Clients have David's direct line.

That model limits how many cases the agency can handle at once. It's also the reason clients keep coming back, and why our reputation in New York investigation circles has held up for three and a half decades.

Expert Panel

Who is David Schassler?

David J. Schassler is a New York State licensed private investigator and the founder of New York Intelligence Agency. He won a New York Emmy® Award as Lead Researcher on the WCBS TV investigation “Red Light Rabbi,” and he has directed private investigations in New York since 1989.

Award
New York Emmy® Award

Hard News: Single Story, for the WCBS TV investigation “Red Light Rabbi,” which aired November 29, 2006. David is credited as Lead Researcher with Chief Investigative Reporter Scott Weinberger, Executive Producer Carl Gottlieb and Editor Pat Quinn. The award was presented at the 51st Annual New York Emmy® Awards on April 6, 2008.

Read the New York Emmy® winners list →

License
Licensed in New York

New York State private investigator license #11000169770 from the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. Licensed, bonded and insured.

Look up the New York license →

Experience
Investigating since 1989

David founded New York Intelligence Agency, Inc. in 1989. He still reviews every case before it is accepted and signs every final report.

How a case runs →

Background
Retired New York police detective

David is a retired New York police detective. He also did the investigative research behind award winning reporting at WCBS TV. Cases are run the same way: sourced, documented and built to hold up under scrutiny.

See his LexVisio expert listing →

Court panels
Court approved expert witness

The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles lists David on its Panel of Expert Witnesses (revised April 10, 2026), qualified in police practices and canine related matters. He is also on the County of San Luis Obispo Panel of Expert Witnesses.

Los Angeles Superior Court panel (PDF) →

San Luis Obispo County panel (PDF) →

Specialties
Surveillance, TSCM, fraud, missing persons

Matrimonial and infidelity cases, TSCM bug sweeps, corporate and financial fraud, insurance fraud, missing persons, background checks and overseas cases.

All investigation services →

Clients
Attorneys, companies and families

Wall Street firms, defense and matrimonial attorneys, public figures and private families across New York.

Work for attorneys →

Offices
555 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan

Suite 1401, New York, NY 10017, plus a Rockland County office in Haverstraw. Field investigators across the five boroughs, Westchester and Long Island. 158 client reviews on Birdeye, rated 5 stars.

Google reviews and directions →

158 reviews on Birdeye →

Press
Quoted by CNBC

CNBC quoted David in “Trust, but verify: How to do a background check like a pro” (August 18, 2016) on why a real background check takes legwork, not just an online search. He has also been featured by the New York Post and Legal Leaders Magazine, and Foglight Investigations ranked New York Intelligence Agency No. 4 in its Top 10 private detective agencies in the USA (2024).

Read the CNBC article →

On the Job

Thirty five years of fieldwork, from Fifth Avenue to the five boroughs.

David Schassler working a case in New York City: at a cafe window, walking a Manhattan street, and reviewing files at his desk
In the Field

Where our investigators work

NYIA investigator on assignment on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
NYIA investigator near the Ritz-Carlton, Central Park
Central Park South
NYIA night surveillance in Manhattan
Manhattan, after dark
New York Intelligence Agency. David Schassler, more than 35 years of private investigation experience in New York
How To Check Us

How To Check Us Before You Call

New York Intelligence Agency is a licensed private investigation agency at 555 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Our New York State license number is 11000169770. You can look it up yourself in about two minutes.

What You Can Check Yourself

  • Our state license. Open the New York Department of State Licensee Search. Choose Private Investigator and search by ID number 11000169770. The state only lists active licenses.
  • David's Emmy. The New York Emmy record lists the Red Light Rabbi report from WCBS TV in 2006. David was the Lead Researcher.
  • Our office. We work from 555 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10017. See it on Google Maps.
  • What clients say. Read our reviews on Google and Yelp.

How We Work a Case

David founded the agency in 1989. He vets every case before we take it and directs the plan himself. Your first consultation is free and confidential. Surveillance is billed by the hour and you get a clear estimate before you commit. Our investigators watch only in public and never make contact. You get dated photos, video and a written report your attorney can use. Read more about how a case runs and how we keep your case private.

Frequently Asked Questions

About David. Your questions answered

Straight answers to what clients ask most. If yours isn't here, call David directly for a free, confidential consultation.

Can David Schassler personally work my case?

David founded NYIA in 1989 and personally directs every significant case. He is an Emmy Award recipient for investigative work as Lead Researcher on a New York Emmy winning report. Call him at (646) 461-4650 to ask about your situation.

What Emmy did David Schassler win?

David won a New York Emmy® Award in the Hard News: Single Story category as Lead Researcher on “Red Light Rabbi,” a WCBS TV investigation that aired November 29, 2006. The award was presented at the 51st Annual New York Emmy Awards on April 6, 2008, and the winners list is published by the New York chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Read the winners list.

Is David Schassler a court approved expert witness?

Yes. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles lists David James Schassler on its Panel of Expert Witnesses, revised April 10, 2026, as qualified for court appointment in police practices and canine related matters. He is also on the County of San Luis Obispo Panel of Expert Witnesses. He is a retired New York police detective. Read the Los Angeles court panel.

How do I check that NYIA is licensed?

Go to the New York Department of State Licensee Search at dos.ny.gov/licensee-search. Choose Private Investigator and search by ID number 11000169770. The state only lists active licenses.

Who runs New York Intelligence Agency?

David Schassler founded the agency in 1989 and still directs every significant case. He works from our office at 555 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1401, in Manhattan.

Is the first consultation confidential?

Yes. First consultations are free and confidential. Call David at (646) 461-4650 to talk through your situation.

Free, Confidential Consultation

Want to discuss your case with David directly?

(646) 461-4650
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