NCJ Number
171220
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 64 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 33-43
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The conduct of undercover operations by police agencies and technological advances in criminal activity and surveillance equipment for use in undercover operations are discussed.
Abstract
Most police agencies in the United States are small, numbering fewer than 25 police officers, and their small size makes it difficult to establish an undercover team or to assign one police officer exclusively to undercover work. For many small police agencies, task forces have been the solution to the problem of investigating criminal activity. In Michigan, for example, the need to be proactive has resulted in the formation of a part-time, multijurisdictional Tactical Surveillance Team. One of the newest forms of uncover work has resulted from the advent of the Internet. Computer crime has skyrocketed, especially among those who deal in child pornography. Police investigators are learning how to investigate such crimes as data alteration and/or destruction, sale of proprietary data, data extortion, disclosure of confidential data, voice mail fraud, cellular telephone fraud, and stolen long-distance charge card numbers. The use of surveillance equipment in undercover operations is examined, technological advances available to undercover agents are noted, and the importance of properly supervised police undercover personnel is discussed. A list of companies that market equipment for use in undercover operations is included. 1 photograph