Here is another case of an officer being charged following an inappropriate relationship with an informant in Oconee County, South Carolina. It is far from unusual. While agencies place their officers in these situations there will always be risks and this is a risk that materialises far too often. Managing confidential informants (human Sources, covert human intelligence sources, CHIS) is a business that is fraught with risks.
When Human Source policies are not followed - Police corruption
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.
Confidential informant compromise - Police Negligence.
Here is a story about the compromise of a list of informants names from Nevada’s Record Courier. A worker in the state’s information technology department, was able to open the file containing the names, addresses and even photos of the informants. If informants are being managed properly this should not be possible. It is negligence on the part of the agency managing the informants. We are putting people’s lives in great danger.