NCJ Number
49944
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS POLICE TRAINING MANUAL EXCERPT EXAMINES THE RATIONALE FOR SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS AND OFFERS A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPER SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
TO CONCENTRATE THE EFFORTS OF A POLICE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONDUCT A SURVEILLANCE OPERATION. POSSIBLE OBJECTIVES OF SUCH AN OPERATION MAY INCLUDE OBTAINING EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, LOCATING CONTRABAND, OBTAINING PROBABLE CAUSE FOR SEARCH WARRANTS, OR APPREHENDING A SUSPECT DURING THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME. SURVEILLANCE PREPARATION INCLUDES A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE SUSPECTS' FILES, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THEIR ACTIVITIES, CRIMES, WORK AND NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT, AND VEHICLES. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SUSPECTS SHOULD BE USED IF AVAILABLE. THE IDENTITIES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF KNOWN ASSOCIATES OF SUSPECTS ALSO SHOULD BE STUDIED BY THE SURVEILLANCE TEAM. THE CLOTHING AND VEHICLES OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED OUGHT TO BE INCONSPICUOUS, AND THE OFFICERS SHOULD ADOPT THE DRESS AND DEMEANOR OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA IN WHICH THE OPERATION OCCURS. AN ORDINARY APPEARANCE IS BELIEVED TO BE USEFUL IN CONCEALING THE NATURE OF THE POLICE ACTIVITY. METHODS OF SURVEILLANCE INVOLVING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP OPERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED AND EVALUATED. PREPLANNING OF THE SURVEILLANCE, INCLUDING PROCEDURES FOR FOOT PATROL AND INTERIOR OPERATIONS, HELPS RESOLVE DIFFICULTIES. TECHNIQUES FOR MOVING SURVEILLANCE INVOLVING A VEHICLE ARE DISCUSSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE USE OF MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND THE METHODS USED BY SUSPECTS TO DETECT SURVEILLANCE. FIXED OPERATIONS SUCH AS OBSERVATIONS FROM A STATIONARY VANTAGE POINT ARE EXAMINED, WITH SUGGESTED OBSERVATION POINTS ENUMERATED. SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT SHOULD INCLUDE BINOCULARS, CAMERAS WITH TELEPHOTO LENSES AND DATA BACK SYSTEMS, AND A SURVEILLANCE LOG. TRAINING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)