NCJ Number
146487
Date Published
1993
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video trains undercover police officers in procedures designed to minimize the risks associated with undercover drug law enforcement.
Abstract
The video consists primarily of a lecture in undercover drug law enforcement by Michael Verdi of the New York City Police Department. Charts and simulated dramatic scenes accompany the lecture. The lecture emphasizes the importance of keeping undercover drug operations at the level of "reasonable risk" rather than having them escalate to "risk" and "chance." Control is the featured characteristic of a "safe" undercover drug operation. This means that the time, place, amounts, payment modes, and the means of getting to and away from the "buy" location must be under the control of the narcotics unit. One aspect of control is precise instructions to the undercover operative. The operative must then abide by the instructions to ensure predictability and control in the execution of the plan. A symbolic triangle of drugs, money, and the suspect's freedom is the danger triangle when all three are together in the same place. For this reason, the lecturer recommends that another undercover officer hold the money at a place different from the initial meeting to break the danger "triangle." Discussion questions are on the video and also accompany the video on a separate sheet.