DATE: March 30, 2007
FROM: PATRICK E. MAXWELL, CAPTAIN TO: ALL PERSONNEL
NORWALK STATION NORWALK STATION
SUBJECT: NORWALK STATION MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE 07-XX; NORWALK STATION UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to define policy and procedures for deployment of undercover personnel in Norwalk Station’s Policing area.
SCOPE OF ORDER
This order applies to all deputies assigned to duties at Norwalk Regional Station.
BACKGROUND
In an effort to conduct proactive surveillance to identify and arrest person’s responsible for committing crimes in Norwalk Station’s area station personnel will deploy an undercover suppression and apprehension team. The team’s primary objective is to identify suspicious persons and criminal conduct that would normally go undetected. The team’s objective is to observe and coordinate law enforcement personnel in a safe manner without sacrificing the team’s anonymity and becoming involved in an arrest situation.
The team will utilize undercover vehicles such as rental vehicles and other vehicles provided by the Sheriff’s Department.
DIRECTIVE
In an effort to ensure the safety of daily operations of the team as well as the public, the following guidelines will be followed. Deviation from these guidelines must be approved by the on-duty Norwalk Station Watch Commander.
- When the undercover team is deployed a sergeant shall be assigned to supervise the team and a minimum of two deputy sheriff’s will be deployed in a marked Sheriff’s patrol vehicle. The watch commander, watch sergeant and watch deputy will also be notified of the operation.
- The undercover team will be comprised of two deputy sheriff’s in an unmarked or civilian type vehicle which is not identifiable as a law enforcement vehicle. The team members will wear their ballistic vests and have their duty weapon with them at all times. The team will also have two Sheriff radios with them for communications. One of the radios will be set to Norwalk Station Dispatch and one to the tactical frequency being used for the operation.
- Uniform for the undercover team will be plain clothes. The undercover team will have their department identification, badges, safety gear and a department raid jacket with them during the operation at all times.
- A tactical frequency will be secured through Sheriff Communications Center prior to the deployment of an operation.
- Undercover personnel will stay in constant communications with the assisting units updating their locations and status frequently. Assisting units will stay in a close proximity to undercover personnel should an immediate response be requested. Assisting units will stay dedicated to the operation.
- Undercover personnel will not contact suspects, conduct traffic stops or take any type of law enforcement action unless absolutely necessary based on exigent circumstances and only if they can be immediately identified as department members by their clothing or department identification.
- A mandatory briefing will be conducted for all personnel involved prior to the start of an operation. Contingencies and preparations will be discussed during the briefing. Any personnel who are not briefed will not be allowed to join the operation.
- For the safety of all personnel, these types of operations will not be conducted in areas with a high concentration of gang members or where the layout of streets or obstacles could impede a rapid removal of personnel from an area. Other areas may also be excluded based on current gang activity or crime trends. These limitations will be discussed at the mandatory briefing.
- These operations will be conducted in accordance with all state and local laws.
- These operations will be conducted in accordance with department policy and procedures, and any applicable directives.