NCJ Number
207935
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 31 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 86,88-90,92,93
Date Published
November 2004
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the training and the work of undercover police officers.
Abstract
Despite the fact that undercover police work can be especially dangerous, most undercover officers learn about undercover work while on the job or through limited training. Charlie Fuller, a retired ATF Special Agent, founded Covert Operations Programs Specialists (COPS), a consulting firm providing week-long undercover training programs to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies around the country. The courses include classroom instruction and intensive role-playing exercises. The article discusses the traits and characteristics that embody a good undercover agent, including flexibility, strong moral fiber, discipline, intelligence, and the ability to think quickly. It is easy for undercover officers to get caught up in their work and the psychological demands of the job are enormous. The article mentions that the key to success as an undercover officer lies in the officer’s ability to adopt a convincing role. In fact, the COPS programs often have a professional actor teach a role-playing course. All undercover officers are supported by skilled teammates who make up either the surveillance team or the cover team and are responsible for blending in and ensuring the safety of the undercover officer. Undercover officers, however, must never forget that they are responsible for their own safety in undercover operations.