NCJ Number
63194
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 390-393
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE VIEWPOINT THAT POLICE INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS SHOULD INCLUDE SECURING COMMUNITY SUPPORT, ESTABLISHING CLEAR MANDATES FOR ACTIVITIES, AND INTEGRATING WITH VICE AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS ELEMENTS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
SUGGESTIONS MADE BY THE HONORABLE WILLIAM E. COLBY, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE CIA, FOR REDESIGNING NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS TO REESTABLISH AND RETAIN PUBLIC TRUST COULD HELP POLICE INTELLIGENCE UNITS ACCOMPLISH THE SAME OBJECTIVES. COLBY'S THEORY DEMANDS REVERSAL OF THE NEGATIVE NEED-TO-KNOW POLICY. THE NEW INTELLIGENCE, AS APPLIED TO THE POLICE FIELD, WOULD CALL FOR COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE AS A CORNER STONE. NO ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO FORM A POLICE INTELLIGENCE UNIT UNTIL THE COMMUNITY ENDORSES THE IDEA. ONCE THE PROBLEMS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED, IT IS A SHORT STEP TO DEMONSTRATE THE SPECIAL ROLE OF POLICE INTELLIGENCE IN THEIR SOLUTION. IN ADDITION, A CLEAR CHARTER OF PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES AND A WATCHDOG ELEMENT MUST BE INCLUDED. EXISTENCE OF A WATCHDOG WILL REFUTE CLAIMS OF FAVORITISM AND REDUCE MEDIA CRITICISM. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE VICE UNITS AND POLICE INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNITS CAN AND SHOULD BE MADE A PART OF THE INTELLIGENCE UNITS. IN ASSUMING THE DIRECTION OF THE VICE UNIT, THE INTELLIGENCE UNIT WOULD BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRADITIONAL POLICE ACTIVITY, RESULTING IN AN OVERALL GAIN IN CREDIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG OTHER POLICE. SIMILARLY, THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OPERATIONS FREQUENTLY OVERLAP INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN FERRETING OUT CORRUPT OFFICERS. THIS ELEMENT COULD ALSO BE SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATED WITH INTELLIGENCE UNITS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE. (LWM)