I was asked yesterday has to what makes confidential informant (Human Source) training provided by HSM Training different from other providers. I wasn’t quite sure where to start. Then it dawned on me that it doesn’t actually start with us, it starts with the customer and what they need. And what they need is not always what they want.
Here is a story about the murder of a confidential informant in Florida. While there are limited facts available here it will be interesting to follow this story and see if there are any parallels with the murder of Rachael Hoffman in Tallahassee a number of years ago. This led to the introduction of Rachael’s law which was intended to place a much greater obligation on law enforcement to protect informants.
Here are two stories around things going badly wrong in regard to confidential informant management.
One from Siloam Springs and one from Los Alamos
Have a read at the stories and check out what happened. Now look at your own department and ask your self “How could this happen in our department? “ If your answer is ‘It couldn’t ‘ you might want to look again. We all like to think we have systems and procedures that stop these types of incident from occurring. Yet, if you are a regular reader of this blog you will see they do time and time again.
It can be very hard for officers working in an agency to read negative reporting in the press, about their agency. And in this case to read of a similar problem occurring. Once you can put down to bad luck, twice …well fingers start to point. Below are two stories connected with officers and confidential informants.
Judge orders Bristol DA to reveal all New Bedford cases involving confidential informant.
A rogue cop, a mystery snitch, and a ‘drug rip.’ How ‘Officer Pills’ exploited policing’s informant system.
A discussion around the story From the Courthouse News Service on alleged Sexual assault of confidential informant
BROOKLYN — A New York police officer did not secure summary judgment on claims that he sexually assaulted one of his confidential informants. He argued that his accuser’s testimony is replete with inconsistencies and improbabilities, but she has plausibly argued that she did not resist him because she feared his authority as a cop and his threats of retribution if she ever told her story. Because he acted outside the scope of his employment, though, the city is not liable for his actions.
Here is the report into 6th January 2021 at Capitol Hill and the involvement of FBI Confidential Human Sources (confidential informants). It is well worth an objective read from a lessons learned perspective.
A Review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Handling of Its l Human Sources and Intelligence Collection Efforts in the Lead Up to the January 6, 2021 Electoral Certification
If you are involved in any type of covert operation such as managing confidential informants, undercover ops, or surveillance this book will help you manage risks effectively. If you follow the steps it will also help you demonstrate to others that you have taken reasonable steps to manage risk. It is essential reading for anyone involved in these duties.
Here is a story from Indiana about the murder of two people who allegedly were confidential informants. While the criminal investigation is ongoing, there needs to be another investigation to identify how these two people were outed as informants, if indeed they were. If lessons are to be learned this investigation needs to be carried out by persons suitably trained and experienced from outside the law enforcement agency where the people were registered as informants
Each day I get google alerts relating to confidential informants, HUMINT Covert Human Intelligence Sources etc. Basically anything to do with Human Sources on the web I try to pick up on and see what is going on . Then I share it here in the hope that we are all wiser from others mistakes. Unfortunately there are just not enough hours in the day and these alerts tend to pile up in my in box.
Here is a tragic case in which an officer lost his life in Toronto, Canada
I dont want to go into the specifics of the case as they already have been before a court. However the case raises important questions for policing as a whole namely What is undercover policing?
Unfortunately, many police officers think that just because they are wearing jeans and a t-shirt that they are working undercover. There is real confusion about what is and what is not undercover police work. Unless things are clear and the risks managed accordingly then tragedy is a real posibility.
Here is a report relating to a huge number of cases that may be overturned in Georgia as a result of a corrupt relations hip with a confidential informant.
About 450 cases are now being questioned. Think about it it. Either way you look at it it is bad. 450 innocent people in jail or 450 guilty people potentially walk. What is more likely is that it is a combination of the two.
And the damage to the criminal justice system in the State does not ear thinking about.
Why because people do not know how to build a system to manage confidential informants ethically and effectively. And until police departments have such a system then these types of cases will keep on appearing.
Is your department next up?
I was asked yesterday has to what makes confidential informant (Human Source) training provided by HSM Training different from other providers. I wasn’t quite sure where to start. Then it dawned on me that it doesn’t actually start with us, it starts with the customer and what they need. And what they need is not always what they want.
Many law enforcement agencies are quite happy to sign up confidential informants with no real consideration given to the risks they are running.
Here is a case from Alabama where a Sheriffs department is being sued for $10 million
Drug informant shot 15 times sues Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out and how much if anything is paid out.