IOD 2020 Surveillance Flashcards
Define surveillance
Continuous observation of persons, places and things in order to obtain information about the identity and activity of individuals suspected of violating the law
“Secret observing to gain information”
Who conducts surveillance and under what authority?
Law enforcement and there is no specific authority because surveillance is generally conducted in public areas where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy (REP).
What are the qualities of a good surveillant?
Tangible = good physical condition (eyesight/hearing, long and difficult hours)
Intangible = emotional/mental make-up attributes
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Adaptability
- Resourcefulness
- Attitude
- Alertness
- Perfection
- Good memory
- Good judgment
- Demeanor
Additional assets = most important when actively involved in surveillance
- Ability to act naturally
- Ordinary appearance
- Experience
- Knowledge of the area
What are the objectives of surveillance?
- Establish the existence of a violation
- Obtain PC for a search warrant
- Apprehend violators during commission of illegal acts
- Identify associates
- Informant reliability
- Provide protection for undercover agent/informant
- Locate persons, place, or things
- Crime prevention
- Gather intelligence prior to execution of warrant
- Gather intelligence on activities of illegal groups
Define the following terms used in coded radio communications: subject/suspect/hare Surveillant Burned/made Covert Overt Tail Eyeball Loose Tight Stale green/red Fresh green/red Cover Lane 1
subject/suspect/hare = person being observed
Surveillant = agent observing
Burned/made = indicates that the surveillant has been discovered or recognized by the subject
Covert = secret or hidden
Overt = open, opposite of covert (example protective detail assignment)
Tail = verb to indicate a surveillance is in progress
Eyeball = the agent closest to the subject who is responsible for keeping subject in view
Loose = type of surveillance that refers to the discreet distance maintained, avoiding being “burned”
Tight = oppose of loose, where there is a minimum of distance between the subject and surveillant
Stale green = a traffic light that has been green for some time and may soon turn red
Fresh green/red = a traffic light that just changed to allow surveillants to determine best course of action
Cover = non-involved vehicle or person between surveillant and subject
Lane 1 = indicates the lane (numbered from left to right)
What are the steps and procedures that should be followed when planning to conduct surveillance?
- Gather intelligence
- Reconnaissance of neighborhood
- Operational planning
- Brief the surveillance team (ALL members)
What are the basic techniques for performing stationary surveillance?
Primary consideration is observation position that allows for close observations of criminal activity and clear identification of criminal suspects
Make sure not in direct line of sight of entry/exit of house
What are the basic techniques for performing foot surveillance?
One person
Two Person
ABC method (most effective)
Define and describe the advantages and disadvantages of the following vehicle surveillance techniques:
Leading surveillance
Progressive surveillance
Parallel Surveillance
Vehicle + Foot surveillance
Leading surveillance = one surveillant in front of the subject (ie. Highway)
Advantage = subject is usually more concerned about who is behind, not who is in front
Disadvantage = subject may take an exit that can’t be made by lead vehicle
Progressive surveillance = stationing vehicles/surveillants at various points along a suspected or known route (ie. Wary/tail-conscious subject or late night/early morning or rural area)
Advantage = avoids possibility of subject noticing a surveillance vehicle
Disadvantage = time consuming
Parallel surveillance = surveillance vehicles travel on streets that parallel subjects known route of travel (ie. In residential areas with light traffic)
Advantage = removes surveillance vehicles from the subject’s view on the street and gives flexibility for turns
Disadvantage = subject stopping, slowing down, or speeding up disrupts timing and might lose subject
Vehicle + foot = combination of a driver/observer and foot surveillance (ie. City/urban area)
Advantage = foot surveillant assured of transportation and cover distance quickly
Disadvantage = vehicle kept out of view as much as possible
What are methods of countering the common tactics used to detect and evade foot surveillance?
Stopping abruptly
Suddenly reversing direction
Stopping abruptly after turning corner
Watching reflection in window
Entering and leaving a building immediately
Walking slow then rapidly
Sequently left/right turns to see if anyone follows (stairstepping)
Dropping a piece of paper to see if anyone retrieves it
Stopping to tie a shoestring
Lost in crowd
Boarding a bus and riding short distance or entering/exiting just before the door closes
Circling the block in a taxi
Using a decoy
Changing appearance using a disguise
What are methods of countering the common tactics used to detect and evade vehicle surveillance?
U-turns Three right turns Stopping abruptly off road Dead end street Changing speeds
What is counter-surveillance?
Attempt to detect surveillance of a particular subject by personnel other than the subject
Look “for deviation from the normal ecology”
Can be done by criminal associate or accidentally by an ordinary citizen
What is a dead drop?
Method of a courier transferring something to another person
Accomplished by Item placed in a public area so there is no face to face contact and left for the other individual to pick up
surveillants should not approach or disturb any “dead drops”, but instead position a stationary surveillance on the “dead drop”
What are the most common mistakes of surveillance teams?
Unnatural behavior
- Backing vehicles into parking spaces (associated with law enforcement)
- Parked vehicles with engines running and ac/heat on (associated with law enforcement)
- Surveillance agents all leave a location at the same time as the subject
- All agents follow a subject into a parking lot at the same time
- Hiding behind objects
- Using more speed than necessary (running or driving quickly)
- Meeting with other surveillants
- Obvious use of radios (holding microphone to mouth in vehicle)
- Radio scanners and radio frequency meters
What are the solutions to the following problems encountered during foot surveillance: Subject enters very large building Subject enters an elevator Subject takes a bus subject takes a taxi Subject enters a public place (theater, racetrack) Subject enters a restaurant Subject makes a contact Agents lose subject subject discovers agents Decoys/traps
Subject enters very large building = all agents enter building and cover exits if possible
Subject enters an elevator = if several passengers can enter elevator (don’t ride alone), select floor above or below subject and take stairs (might be locked out)
Subject takes a bus = sit behind subject and make decision on getting off with subject (usually long distance travel requires supervisor decision)
subject takes a taxi = call taxi company and learn destination
Subject enters a public place (theater, racetrack) = pay admission charge and follow subject
Subject enters a restaurant = sit near subject with the subject’s back to them buy agent facing direction of subject. Order and pay right away (cash best) to prevent having to wait. Consume alcohol in accordance with policy
Subject makes a contact = description of second subject/vehicle, photo if possible
Agents lose subject = attempt to relocate subject
subject discovers agents = “burned” agents discontinue and resume at a later date (certain that you have actually been identified and not just that you “feel” burned)
Decoys/traps = knowledge of the subject and area
