NCJ Number
68485
Journal
Police Magazine Dated: (JULY 1980) Pages: 44-49
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES INCIDENTS FROM THE LIFE OF AN UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE WHO PLAYED KEY ROLES IN A DOZEN LONG-RANGE INVESTIGATIONS, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH WERE AIMED AT ORGANIZED CRIME.
Abstract
DISCUSSION COVERS DOUG LE VIEN'S FIRST 12 MONTHS AS A PATROL OFFICER IN ONE OF BROOKLYN'S CRIME-RIDDEN GHETTOS AND HIS SUBSEQUENT YEAR-LONG INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED PAYOFFS BY ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES TO NEW YORK POLICE OFFICERS. THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON A BROOKLYN JUNKYARD AND LE VIEN, POSING AS A CROOKED OFFICER, COLLECTED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO RESULT IN PRISON SENTENCES FOR TWO LEADING CONSPIRATORS AND LATER CONVICTIONS OF 40 ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES AND 21 POLICE OFFICERS FOR BRIBERY. HIS LATEST 2-YEAR ROLE RESULTED IN A PRISON SENTENCE FOR THE ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURE, VINCENT NAPOLI. IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN CONDUCTING AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION WHICH LE VIEN LEARNED FROM HIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THE IMAGE THE OPERATOR IS PROJECTING, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING A CASE FOR TRIAL. HE ALSO DESCRIBES SOME INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE, HIS FEAR OF RETALIATION FROM ARRESTED CRIMINALS, AND THE FRUSTRATIONS OF BUREAUCRATIC POLITICS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)