| 
Practical Surveillance Techniques in Criminal Investigations
Length of Seminar:
2 Days
Instructor: Dave Lussier
Course Overview:
Importance of Having a Case Agent: This session focuses on the absolute need for one or two officers to be designated as case agents who will, regardless of rank, be responsible for the operation. A ranking Officer will always be responsible for the actions of his men and should always receive updates on how the investigation is proceeding. However, the officer working the surveillance operation will have real time knowledge of their target’s actions. This knowledge will be obtained by very detailed surveillance reports that will be dissected after every shift and will detail any and activity the officers have with their target.
Predetermined Course of Action if Surveillance is at Risk of Being Compromised: This session focuses on just how far the surveillance is to be pushed, or, just how close officers should come to being compromised. The criteria to be used in this determination should be made prior to the initiation of a surveillance operation, and should be determined by the case agent. Is it best for his case that the target be kept in sight at all times, or, does he want officers to back off rather than risk being “made”? During the inception of an investigation, playing it safe may be the best course of action. Just prior to the execution of a search warrant, losing sight of the target could mean you never see him again.
Counter Surveillance: This session focuses on how far your target is willing to go to ensure his own safety. Counter surveillance equipment and the money needed to purchase this equipment is easily accessible to the criminal element. Your target’s equipment will, at times, be superior to your own. Never underestimate the counter surveillance factor.
Prioritizing Your Goals / Understanding Your Target: This session focuses on the need for goals to be set in a surveillance operation. Is a target being followed to determine his residence, to gain names of his associates, or take him into custody? Is the goal to monitor a fixed position, such as a bank, and, if so, have all pertinent factors been taken into consideration? Have possible escape routes been noted? Is a plan in effect if the situation becomes an active shooter scenario? Are the officers conducting the surveillance easily distinguishable from the potential targets? A successful surveillance requires an officer to be acutely aware of and thoroughly understand his surroundings.
Designing Surveillance Around Your Target: This session focuses on the case agent’s ability to make the surveillance team’s job as easy as possible. What does your target like to do on a daily basis? Does he start the day off at the same breakfast establishment or at the local gym? If he turns right down Steele Street, is that because that’s where his girlfriend lives? Historically men are creatures of habit; documenting a few of your target’s can be extremely valuable.
Steps in Identifying a Previously Unknown Target: This session focuses on a dozen unobtrusive methods that can be used to identify that new face working the block - Tony Soprano’s new driver, or the guy that’s been standing across the liquor store for an hour. It also covers the legalities of what the courts have determined to be acceptable actions during car stops and Terry frisks.
G.P.S., Video and Advanced Surveillance Technology / Legality and Court Decisions: The topic of discussion in this portion of the course is technology and its relationship to surveillance operations. Today G.P.S. devices can be placed on target vehicles and provide real time data. Cellular telephones and other small devices capable of being placed on and tracking a target can benefit from the use of G.P.S.. Video cameras, including those purchased on a very limited budget, can transmit wireless images. Thermal and satellite imagery, which are too often overlooked, have become readily available to law enforcement. This session will cover the proper use of such devices as well as the positive and negative issues that can arise. This discussion will also examine case law and court decisions regarding the implementation of such devices and will outline how to determine of court orders become necessary.
Gather Information by Every Means Available: This session will outline several methods of acquiring information that are often over looked - ranging from early morning trash pulls, to several techniques of cross referencing previously obtained data, to Google searches. Surveillance operations can produce tremendous amounts of data and this session reinforces the need to examine even the smallest bits of information.
Surveillance on Foot, Using Undercover Officers and Fixed Positions: This session covers particle tactics for officers following or maintaining visual sight of a target when on foot. It will cover the necessity of pre-planning and the attention to the small details which, if ignored, may compromise a case.
The session will delve into the implementation of an undercover officer and examine their potential to develop a vast array of information from a single conversation with the target or with a close associate. Also covered will be the utilization of the home or business of a concerned citizen for a stationary position and will explore both the benefits it may bring and the inherent dangers of involving citizens in police operations.
Moving Surveillance Techniques, Planning and Choosing Vehicles: In this session we again re-enforce the importance of having a situational plan in place for the surveillance team. Techniques such as the leap frog, running parallel, and consistently changing the lead vehicle all have proven track records. This session will work upon the assumption that your target is a well established gangster, and that he will start looking for you the moment he opens the front door. Participants will learn that in choosing vehicles, team members must take the totality of the surveillance into account. For instance, what is the most popular car in America and just what is the most popular color? Methods used to make your vehicles fit in to the surrounding environment and keeping them innocuous will be detailed.
Situations That Can Compromise Both Officer Safety and the Integrity of the Operation: This part of the course will explore many of the unforeseen compromising situations that can arise in any surveillance operation. Real life examples of how improper planning can ruin an investigation will be demonstrated. For instance, how can a simple scenario of two officers sitting inside a van working a bank stakeout easily result in a blown investigation?
If a poorly trained officer is driving down a drug infested street two car lengths behind the target vehicle and, at the stop sign, three dealers run up to his window and trying to make a sale, what is that officer’s best move? This session will cover dozens of potential scenarios and provide participants with the guidance and knowledge they need to make good decisions.
Search Warrants, Pre-Raid Surveillance and Trial Preparation: The final session will outline tactics used in developing information for a search warrant, which is very often the goal of surveillance operations. It will cover the importance of having a surveillance team already on location prior to the execution of a search or arrest warrant. It will demonstrate the best and often simplest ways to convey surveillance information to a jury when the case gets to trial, which when done correctly, demonstrates not only an officer’s professionalism, but his dedication to the case. Thoroughly cataloged information presented at trial can slam the door on your prisoner’s defense strategy in the Courtroom. |
