NCJ Number
65830
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE SPECIAL TECHNIQUES NECESSARY FOR UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION FOR POLICE.
Abstract
UNDERCOVER TECHNIQUES ARE USEFUL IN INVESTIGATIONS OF ILLICIT DRUGS, BOMBINGS, ARSON CASES, AND OTHER TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS GAMBLING, PROSTITUTION, RACKETEERING, AND OTHER ORGANIZED CRIME ENDEAVORS. UNDERCOVER AGENTS NEED COURAGE, RESOURCEFULNESS, AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AS THEY MUST MATCH WITS WITH CLEVER ADVERSARIES. IN ADDITION, SOME UNDERCOVER ASSIGNMENTS CALL FOR SPECIAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CRIME AND TO MAKE THE AGENT'S ALIAS MORE BELIEVABLE. WHEN AGENTS ARE SELECTED FOR UNDERCOVER ASSIGNMENTS, THEY MUST SHED THEIR OLD IDENTITY BY RIDDING THEIR HOMES AND CARS OF EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT CONNECT THEM TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SOME AGENCIES ALSO TAKE THE ADDED PRECAUTION OF REMOVING ALL THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF UNDERCOVER AGENTS FROM THEIR FILES. AGENTS MUST LEARN ALL THEY CAN ABOUT THE TARGET SUSPECT AND ASSOCIATES AND FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE SUSPECT'S NEIGHORHOOD. ALTHOUGH DANGERS ARE INVOLVED IN HAVING AN INFORMANT, WHOSE LOYALTY IS ALWAYS SUSPECT, INTRODUCE AGENTS TO A SUSPECT, INFORMANTS CAN PROVIDE A WEALTH OF CURRENT INFORMATION ON THE SUSPECT AND MAKE THE INITIAL CONTACT SIMPLER. SUGGESTIONS ARE GIVEN ON HOW TO APPROACH THE TARGET SUSPECTS AND HOW TO HANDLE ACCUSATIONS THAT AGENTS ARE POLICE OFFICERS. AGENTS SHOULD ALSO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS OR 'CONTROLS.' AN INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL AND STUDY NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)