Transcript Development
Terrorism
An Investigator’s Handbook, 4th Edition
Book
Cover
Here
Chapter 11
Informants
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An individual who covertly provides accurate
information to a law enforcement agency on a
continuing basis.
Chapter 11
Defining Informant
Descriptors Used to Identify Informants
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Sources
Contacts
Assets
C.I. (Confidential or Criminal Informant)
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Types
Chapter 11
Short-Term & Limited Use Informants
• Friend, relative, or other contact of the subject
• Volunteering information
• Inside informant
Restrictions
• Informant in nature?
• Nullified testimonies
• Issues of reliable and valid information
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Chapter 11
Informant Targets and Their
Development
1. Inside Targets
Development: “Know thy enemy”
2. Periphery Targets
Development: Anyone is fair game
3. Outside Targets
Development: Lukewarm v. Cold start
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Financial
Working off a Beef
Blackmail
Would-Be Cop
Police Groupie
Would-Be Spy
Patriotism
The Do-Gooder
Soldier of Fortune
The Need for Association with
Status, Professionalism, &
Education
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The Need for Excitement
The Need to Feel Important
The Need for Attention
Liking the Handling Contact
Officer
Advisor
Revenge
Fear
“Other People Are Doing It”
Problem Solver
The Town Crier
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Chapter 11
Motivating an Informant
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Documenting an informant’s information is very likely
the single most important aspect of the overall
investigative technique. Without proper documentation
an investigator may encounter various issues, including:
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Chapter 11
Documenting Informant Information
Testimony
Accuracy of Information
Labeling of Suspects
Stand Alone Reports
Reliability of Information
Time Crunches
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Operation of an informant will vary by:
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Chapter 11
Operating an Informant
Type of informant
The target
Experience
Reliability
Level of fear
Overall intelligence
Need for attention and guidance
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Chapter 11
Informant Security & Confidentiality
Issues
The security and confidentiality of an informant is
imperative. Code names and #’s are usually given, even
to other officers and a strict “need to know” basis must
be adhered to.
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Vetting – the process by which the correctness of an
Chapter 11
Vetting the Informant
informant’s information is verified.
Vetting Techniques
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Debriefing
Reviewing previous debriefs
Having others debrief
Cross checking
Agency checks
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The relationship between the handling officer and the
informant is not exactly one of honesty. Often a time,
the handling officer will cater to the informants wants
to obtain all the information he can get. Personal
aspects of life should always remain untouched in this
type of relationship.
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Chapter 11
Honesty and the Informant Relationship
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On the Job
Chapter 11
Illegal Activities and the Informant
Being an informant does not exempt a subject from the
law. The handling officer must make this clear.
Away from the Job
Violating the law under any circumstance is not
prohibited due to the “informant” status. The handling
officer must make this clear.
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The utmost caution should be used when choosing an
informant for terrorist investigations, especially when
considering drug users. The following factors must be
considered:
Chapter 11
Drugs and Informants
• Terrorists DON’T do hard drugs
• Credibility of testimony
• Ability to infiltrate a group
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Chapter 11
Subsources
A person who reports information who in turn relays it
back to the handling officer.
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Chapter 11
The Pre-Text Informant
An individual who regularly provides current
information about a target to law enforcement officer
without being aware of the officer’s true employment.
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Terrorism
An Investigator’s Handbook, 4th Edition
Book
Cover
Here
Chapter 12
Trash Cover
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An investigative technique that involves law
enforcement recovery of discarded materials.
Chapter 11
What is a Trash Cover?
Items Are Retrieved From
• The Trash
• The Subject
• Relatives, Friends or Associates of the Subject
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There are plenty of advantages to employing the trash
cover technique. A lot can be found out about the
subject in question, such as:
Chapter 11
Advantages of Trash Cover
• Fingerprint Identification
• Personal Information (i.e., bank transactions, phone calls)
• Drug or Alcohol Use
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Although this technique can be helpful, investigators
should consider using this approach with caution.
There are some law enforcement officer who view this
technique as “dirty,” if not conducted in the correct
manner, this technique can lead to issues of:
Chapter 11
Disadvantages of Trash Cover
• Entrapment
• Inadmissible Evidence
• Fruits of the Poisonous Tree
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Chapter 11
The Planned Trash Cover:
Legal Aspects
Ownership
The mere fact that a subject implies that he no longer
wants an item, and therefore discards it into a disposal
receptacle, does not automatically mean that he or she actually
relinquishes ownership of the item.
Location
If an investigator must trespass on private property in
order to recover a discarded item, he or she will need a search
warrant.
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Establish
Legality
Can the trash be
searched
without a
warrant?
Plan
Implement
surveillance
Chapter 11
Trash Cover:
The Process
Retrieve from:
Pickup
• Personal Trash
• Collection Company
• Neighborhood Truck
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Chapter 11
Handling the Fruits of a Trash Cover
Take to a secure location for examination
Wear all necessary attire for protection
Identify, label, and date any evidence found
Documents should be stored in a plastic bag to
preserve the script
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• Cancelled checks, deposits slips,
bank statements
• Credit card receipts and bills
• Utility bills
• Telephone bills & statements
• Personal correspondence
• Medical bills, receipts, &
prescriptions
• Mortgage and rent receipts
• Evidence of debt
• Stock, bond & other investments
• Tax information
• Gambling receipts (legal & illegal)
Chapter 11
What Can Be Obtained From a
Trash Cover
• Magazines, newspapers, &
periodicals
• Items associated with hobbies &
personal interests
• Business records
• Information on vehicle ownership
• Club & group correspondence
• Religious materials
• Remains of specialized foods
• Evidence of weapon ownership
• Indication of alcohol or drug use
• Evidence of illegal activities
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Trash covers that are implemented without surveillance
can result in issues in determining the items validity in
court. To avoid these issues, an investigator should
always consider the following:
Chapter 11
Unplanned Trash Covers
• Fingerprinting
• Shredding
• Additional Searches:
– Patrol transport vehicles
– Hotel rooms
– Long occupied areas (i.e., movie theatres, airplanes,
restaurants, etc.)
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Chapter 11
Final Comments on the
Trash Cover Technique
These are a few things that investigator’s should
remember when employing the trash cover technique:
• Use common sense
• This is NOT a required technique
• Only use this technique under legal circumstances
• Do not underestimate using this technique while issuing a valid
search warrant
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