Informant Conduct and Supervision Protocols

Practice questions based on department regulations regarding the management, supervision, search procedures, financial compensation, and deactivation of informants.

Under the department policy, are informants allowed to represent themselves as law enforcement officers?

No, informants are not law enforcement officers and shall not represent themselves as such at any time.

What is the policy regarding informants carrying weapons during investigations?

Informants shall not carry firearms or other weapons while cooperating with investigations.

What document must an informant sign to indicate agreement to the department's conditions?

An informant condition statement.

How many department members or enforcement officers must be able to contact each informant?

At least $2$ members or enforcement officers.

What is the requirement for in-person contacts with an informant whenever practicable?

Whenever practicable, $2$ members and or enforcement officers shall be present at all in-person contacts.

What types of personal interactions with informants are specifically prohibited?

Extraneous business or social contacts are prohibited.

In which system must all contact with informants be documented?

The department's ACE (Automated Case Explorer).

What procedure is required for informants exposed to department funds, controlled substances, or evidence?

They shall be thoroughly searched before and after undercover encounters and, whenever practicable, kept under continuous observation between searches.

Who must perform searches of an informant?

Members, enforcement officers, or law enforcement officers of the same sex as the informant.

Who must be informed when a cooperative arrangement with a juvenile is terminated?

Parents, legal guardians, or, if applicable, prosecutors.

Whom must a member notify upon gaining knowledge of an informant's arrest or unsupervised criminal activity?

The criminal investigation section commander.

What is the approval requirement for a single payment exceeding $50$ to an informant?

Prior approval of the unit supervisor.

What is the approval requirement for multiple payments to the same informant exceeding $500$ in a $30$ day period?

Prior approval of the unit supervisor.

What approvals are required for a single payment exceeding $500$ to an informant?

Prior approval from both the unit supervisor and the additional prior approval of the criminal investigation section commander.

What approvals are required for multiple payments exceeding $2,500$ to the same informant in a $30$ day period?

The additional prior approval of the criminal investigation section commander.

Is it permissible to compensate informants with controlled substances?

No, except when a member enforcement officer has good cause to fear for his/her personal safety, or the safety of another law officer or civilian.

What is the time threshold for deactivating an informant who has not contributed meaningfully to an investigation?

Within the previous $12$ months.

What are the three criteria for declaring an informant unreliable?

1. Unwilling to accept required supervision/direction. 2. Suspected of providing false or misleading information. 3. Acting in a way that compromises department interests, activities, or personnel.

Who must provide consent to reactivate an informant who was previously declared unreliable?

The director, Bureau of Criminal Investigation.