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.
So you have recognised that there is a need for HUMINT training within your agency but your not sure where to go to get the right training and if truth were told you are not even sure what the right training would look like if you saw it described.
When it comes to HUMINT training there are a lot of different products on offer from a lot of different providers. It can be difficult to chose which provider to go with. Herer are a few things you might want to consider before you sign contracts.
Here are details of an interesting judgement from New Mexico on the issue of probable cause in relation to a drugs warrant. There are a couple of learning points here for all detectives.
Here is an interesting story from Nigeria where alert soldiers intercepted a truck containing fertiliser. While this may have passed by many a patrol these soldiers were on the ball and after asking the right questions identified it as being intended for terrorist use. Excellent work.
When things go wrong in policing chances are the taxpayer is going to end up paying to get the mistakes fixed. Here is a news report relating to New Bedford Police and fixing their issues around informant management. This follows a not of press coverage including a well worth listening to podcast from the Boston Globe.
Here is an interesting article from Akron Ohio about a sexual relationship between a female officer and her informant. What is interesting about this case is that by the account given the agency seem to have had in place policy that would have mitigated the risk of this occurring. ALL contacts had to be reported and two handlers always present.
Here is a story that clearly indicates the problems where confidential informants are then used as witnesses.
There is an all to common opinion that someone who is a confidential informant is also suitable to be then used as a witness. Essentially this is about lazy law enforcement.
There is a clue in the name ‘confidential informant’ Confidential means we don’t expose them.
A witness is someone we intend to testify.
Conflating the two brings huge problems including dubious convictions and the exposure of informants to risk to their life.
Agencies need systems and processes to manage any conflict between the two.
At HSM training we are continually trying to offer the best products we can to both law enforcement and intelligence services. As part of our research we will also look at what else is in the market place. This gives us an idea of what people are looking for and what is available. We continually strive to offer the best products available. This blog discusses training in relation to HUMINT and confidential informants.
At HSM we constantly research stories relating to corruption relating to the management of confidential informants. The Snitch City Podcast from The Boston Globe highlighted a number of serious issues relating to the management of confidential informants, in New Bedford Police Department. Numerous serious allegations were made.
Here is another story of corruption relating to the management of confidential informants, this time in Tennessee. Sometimes I get tired of highlighting similar issues, mainly because with a limited amount of effort and some financial investment the vast amount of corruption relating to informant management can be eliminated. Seriously folks it is not that difficult
Here is another story about the consequences of bad informant management in New Bedford, Mass. A lot has been said about problems within this agency none of which can be pleasant for any officer of that agency unconnected with the allegations. These have been covered in depth in the podcast Snitch City presented by the Boston Globe.
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.