Our Founder

Where We Come From

Ed Cobbler founded ELC Investigative Services in 1983, the first licensed private investigative firm in Greensboro, North Carolina after 15 years of law enforcement experience with the Greensboro, NC Police Department. While there, he worked in the Youth and Criminal Divisions and served in Vice as an undercover narcotics officer. Ed served active combat duty in Vietnam prior to receiving an honorable discharge in 1968. He earned his criminal justice degree from Guilford College.

Ed was a member of the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board, the North Carolina Association of Private Investigators (NCAPI), having served as VP, the National Association of Private Investigators (NAPI), the World Association of Detectives (WAD), the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) and the U.S. Process Servers Association. He believed in giving back to his community and served on numerous boards including the Greensboro Merchants Association (GMA), the Palomino Baseball League, Courtwatch, Win-Win Resolutions and the Amends Prison Ministry. Mr. Cobbler chaired GMA's Crime Prevention Council and Membership Council. He also enjoyed being a Civitan, a member of the Greensboro Sports Council, a Red Cross Disaster Volunteer and a Mobile Meals Volunteer.

Ed founded ELC Investigative Services with a personal commitment to his core values: integrity, work ethic, dedication to clients and producing a results-oriented superior product. He valued long-term, mutually beneficial, confidential client relationships.

"The Thing You Do" podcast / Episode 4: "Ed the PI"

"When Ed Cobbler hung out his Private Investigator shingle 37 years ago, he was the ONLY PI working in Greensboro, North Carolina. He's got more competition these days, but ask anyone in town who's the best, and there's a really good chance they'll point you in Ed's direction.

Between his nearly 40 years as a PI, 15 years in law enforcement, and the time that he served in the US Army, including a tour in Vietnam, Ed's witnessed some of the worst things humanity has to offer. While he spends his days investigating things like violent crimes, insurance fraud, embezzlement, etc., he still somehow manages to be a positive, kind guy who looks for the best in people."

Listen to the free podcast here.