10 things officers dealing with CIs should know

10 Things Every Officer Dealing with

Confidential InformantShould Know

and should be taught on every CI Management Course

ABM Power Point Template V5.0 25/03/2014

Managing confidential informants is often perceived as a task that any officer can do and

that every detective should do.

However…

Despite significant evidence of the importance of training for officers involved in

this role many agencies provide only the minimum if any training and then wonder

why it goes horribly wrong.

Even in Florida where training for officers managing confidential informants is a

legislative requirement following the death of Rachel Hoffman officers there, often receive only

the most minimal of training.

Therefore…

Introduces…

10 Things Every Officer Dealing with

Confidential InformantShould Know

and should be taught on every CI Management Course

ABM Power Point Template V5.0 25/03/2014

1. Civil liberties and human rights

Using confidential informants will always engage civil liberty and human rights;

officers need to be aware what these issues are and how to justify their actions.

2. Ethics and morals

Managing confidential informants is fraught with ethical and moral dilemmas.

Only by training officers in ethics can these matters be effectively addressed.

3. Corruption

Unfortunately, all too often officers involved in managing confidential

informants become mired in corruption. Understanding the psychological process involved helps reduce the chances of the

officer falling victim to this.

4. Risk Management

There are significant risks in managing any confidential informant. Officers need to be

trained how to identify, evaluate record and manage the relevant risks.

5. Legislation and the agency’s policies and procedures

Officers need to know the relevant legislation and need the agency’s

procedures explained to them.

6. Record keeping

Officers need to know what records to complete and the timeframes for completion

of those records.

7.Field-craft

Keeping both the officers and the confidential informant alive involves

equipping all with the skills necessary to make contact and meet safely.

8. Debriefing

Many officers have only the most rudimentary of skills when it comes to

eliciting the maximum amount of information from a confidential informant. Training officers in ‘relevant’ interviewing skills maximizes the amount of information

gained. Some common interview techniques currently in use are totally counter

productive for this arena.

9. Writing intelligence reports

Many officers do not know how to write comprehensive and accurate intelligence

reports with the result that inaccurate intelligence is submitted and good

intelligence is lost. Officers also need to be taught how to individually grade each

intelligence report.

10. Psychology

Teaching officers even the most fundamental aspects of the psychology

involved in managing confidential informants will increase the confidential informant’s

productivity and increase the control over that confidential informant.

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