from surveillance to records and files chapter 8

From Surveillance to

Records and Files

Chapter 8

Copyright ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

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SURVEILLANCE: OBSERVING THE SCENE

“Follow that car!”• What is surveillance?

– The underlying principle of surveillance is watching and following others.

• Surveillance – The secret observation of people, groups, places, vehicles, and

things over a prolonged period in an effort to gather information about a crime or criminal behavior.

– Unlike other aspects of police work, for which the officer can prepare and plan, surveillance depends largely on the actions of the subject.

– When conducting surveillance without advance knowledge of the subject’s plans and activities, officers must simply wait, watch, and respond.


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The Purpose of Surveillance

• In general, surveillance is used to obtain information—about people, their friends and associates, and activities—that may assist in solving a criminal case, protecting a witness, or locating a fugitive.


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The Purpose of Surveillance• Gather information to develop a criminal case• Detect or prevent crime• Detect and prevent terrorist attacks• Locate a wanted fugitive• Learn about various contacts and associates of a particular

suspect or group• Gain information sufficient to establish probable cause for

issuance of a search or arrest warrant• Discover the activities and movements of suspected

individuals• Verify statements made by witnesses or informants


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The Purpose of Surveillance

• Observe and monitor communications of known members of terrorist organizations

• Recover stolen property• Intercept criminals in the act of committing a crime• Prevent a crime from being committed• Develop intelligence on criminals and criminal

organizations• Develop intelligence on terrorists and terrorist

organizations• Obtain information to use during an interrogation


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Preparing for Surveillance

• The personnel and equipment needed and the type of surveillance (loose, tight, stationary, or moving) must be determined in advance.

• The use of code words, methods of summoning aid, methods of entrance and exit from the surveillance location, dress, and safety precautions should all be considered.


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TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE

• There are a number of different types of surveillance strategies. Two of the broadest categories are:

1. Fixed, or stationary surveillance 2. Moving, or mobile surveillance


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Fixed Surveillance

• Fixed, or stationary, surveillance – Close watch on a subject

or object from a single location and vantage point, such as a building or vehicle.


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Fixed Surveillance

• Fixed surveillances, or stakeouts, are usually limited in their duration.

• When establishing a fixed surveillance, the primary requirement is good visibility of the suspect or location being watched.

• The goal of fixed surveillance is more often to gather information than to seize a suspect.


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Moving Surveillance• Moving surveillance– The observation of a subject while moving on foot, in a

vehicle, or in an aircraft.• Foot Surveillance– There are three major types of foot surveillance:• one-investigator, two-investigator, and three-investigator

surveillance• ABC surveillance – A three-officer foot surveillance in which officer A follows the

subject and in turn is followed by officer B. The third surveillant, officer C, normally walks on the other side of the street parallel to subject.


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ABC Foot Surveillance Method


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Moving Surveillance• Leading surveillance – Type of mobile surveillance where the surveillant walks

ahead of the subject.– The three-investigator procedure can be very effective, and

having a fourth officer standing by in a car can be even more effective.

• Vehicle Surveillance– Close surveillance

• Surveillance conducted while remaining very close in proximity to the subject.

– The officer should stay as close to the suspect as possible without becoming conspicuous.


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Moving Surveillance

• Vehicle Surveillance– Vehicles used for surveillance should be plain and

nondescript and fit into the flow of traffic without being noticed.

– Mobile surveillance may be undertaken with one, two, or several cars.

– Perimeter box surveillance • A vehicle surveillance technique that allows surveillants

to maintain coverage even if the subject suddenly turns at an intersection.


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Perimeter Box Surveillance Method


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Moving Surveillance

Electronic Vehicle Tracking• In some situations police may attach a bumper beeper

or similar global positioning system (GPS) device.• A warrant is not necessary to secretly attach a device

to a car provided the car is parked in a public place at the time.

• United States v. Knotts (1983)– “A person traveling in an automobile on public thoroughfares

has no reasonable expectation of privacy in his movements from one place to another.”


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Moving Surveillance

Aerial Surveillance• Warrants are not required to undertake aerial

surveillance over public or private property.• United States v. Causby (1946)

• The Supreme Court ruled that the sky is a “public highway.”

• When law enforcement officers conduct aerial surveillance, they are free to use binoculars, camera equipment, or other surveillance technologies to enhance their vision from the air.


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Moving Surveillance

Thermal Imaging• Forward-looking infrared devices (FLIRs), are

typically mounted under aircraft and used to detect heat sources.

• The most common uses are nighttime high-speed pursuits and to locate fugitives who are evading efforts of officers on the ground to find them.


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Technological Advances in Surveillance

• A wide variety of sophisticated devices are available to enhance the senses of sight and hearing.

Audio Surveillance• Provisions for using electronic listening devices can be

traced to the landmark case of Katz v. United States (1967).– Electronic surveillance and wire-

tapping are permitted only with probable cause and by court order.

– Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Street Act of 1968

– Patriot Act and the Patriot Act II


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Technological Advances in Surveillance

Video Surveillance• Advances in microminiaturization, high resolution and

digitized imaging, and satellite video capabilities, many law enforcement agencies are now able to take advantage of video surveillance.

• Facial recognition systems – Computer-based security systems that are able to

automatically detect and identify human faces.


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TIPS FOR SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS

• Blend in• Engage in conventional activities• Convoy – Following a subject using multiple surveillants in

tandem.

• See Figure 8.5 (page 165)– Countermeasures used to detect surveillance


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RECORDS AND FILES

• Preliminary reports of criminal incidents• Follow-up reports• Offense and arrest records• Modus operandi files• Missing persons reports• Gun registrations• Wanted bulletins and updates• Surveillance reports• Various officers’ personal information files


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Sample Surveillance Form


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Linking People to Records

• A number of obvious records contain information about people, and they may aid in the search for a fleeing felon or suspect.

• These include fingerprint and photograph files and modus operandi files.


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Tracing and Locating People

• Skipping– Fleeing the area

• Remember humans are creatures of comfort and habit.• Residences of a parent, a sibling, or a close relative

living in the area.– Forwarding address– Utilities

• With a little bit of thought, investigators can find numerous sources of records to assist them in tracing a missing suspect.


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Types and Sources of Recorded Information

• Law Enforcement Agencies– Criminal jackets

• Official police records of criminals

• Federal Agencies– Federal agencies with files of information on people include these major

agencies:• FBI• DEA• the U.S. Marshals Service• the Treasury Department, which includes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

and Firearms (ATF) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)– In addition, investigators might contact:

• the Department of Homeland Security and sub departments such as:– Customs and Border Protection– Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)– the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Service


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State and Local Agencies• Most regulatory and licensing powers are in the hands

of state agencies.– Fishing license– Motor vehicle registry

Public Records Offices and Business Organizations• Housing• Credit• Various business dealings• Social or recreational activities


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Miscellaneous Sources and Files– public libraries– libraries on college and university campuses– auto rental and leasing agencies– city directories– the chamber of commerce– hospitals– hotels– taxi and livery companies– travel agencies– moving companies– Internet sources (such as USA People Search)

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