What is the profession of the main character in the 2007 movie "Gone Baby Gone"?

In the 2007 movie "Gone Baby Gone," the main character Patrick Kenzie is a private investigator. He and his partner, Angie Gennaro, are hired to find Amanda McCready, a four-year-old girl abducted from her home in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood.

The film was directed by Ben Affleck in his directorial debut and is based on Dennis Lehane's 1998 detective novel. Casey Affleck plays Patrick Kenzie, while Michelle Monaghan plays Angie Gennaro. Their profession is important to the story because they investigate cases independently, outside the formal police department, while still working alongside detectives.

A common mix-up is calling Kenzie a police detective. He is not a police officer; he is a civilian private investigator, often shortened to P.I. The movie's central conflict also goes beyond solving a kidnapping, exploring questions about parental responsibility, morality, and whether the law always produces the best outcome.