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36.1 CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE Page 1 of 5 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER # 36.1 CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE Effective Date: December 29, 2008 The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the storage, use and dissemination of criminal intelligence information. This policy shall consist of the following numbered sections: I. Scope II. General III. Intelligence Records I. SCOPE A. Frequently officers learn of circumstances or events that, in and of themselves, do not constitute a violation of statute. These same circumstances and events, when considered with other factors, may well indicate criminal acts may be occurring, have occurred or may occur. If criminal evidence is later discovered, such intelligence may prove invaluable in a subsequent prosecu tion. The collection of such intelligence is therefore, a necessary and proper function of the police department. Considering that such information is not evidence of a crime, it must be handled cautiously with vigilance toward protecting the rights of those parties named in the information. B. The collection of criminal intelligence is principally concerned with the collection, analysis and dissemination of information relating to criminal activity within the community. This function shall be a source of information for investigations. II. GENERAL A. All criminal intelligence information received from any credible source, such as a confidential informant, concerned citizen, or any person, even if they do not wish to be ident ified shall be reported. B. Criminal intelligence, for clarity of definition as applied to this directive, shall have that meaning, and exclusions, which are defined in Florida Statute 119.011 C. Criminal intelligence must be evaluated for type and q uality of information that may be included in the system. Criminal information is described as: 36.1 CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE Page 2 of 5 1. Raw intelligence that is unconfirmed information, or information from an undocumented source, indicative of criminal behavior, but may not be considered evidence per se. 2. Hard intelligence is that consisting of records or data discovered from a legitimate and identifiable source, information from previously reliable confidential informants, or information learned from another law enforcement entity. D. Intelligence information is limited to that associated with criminal behavior or conduct, or relates to criminal activities that present a threat to the community. 1. All intelligence information shall be evaluated and reviewed for reliability and accuracy in content 2. Efforts shall be made to judge the reliability or the s ource/s of information and confirm all data whenever possible. E. No information shall be collected that does not relate to specific criminal acts or behavior. F. Collection and analysis of criminal intelligence data shall include but not b e limited to the following information: 1. Information identifying individuals or groups involved in ongoing commercial enterprises of which the product or service is unlawful, or the fruits of criminal activity 2. Identifying subversive grou ps 3. Terrorist activity 4. Bias and/or hate crime/s 5. Bomb threats, placements and/or detonations 6. Established or emerging organized crime groups 7. Potentially dangerous persons 8. Cults 9. Special interest activist groups engaged in civ il disorder 10. Political corruption 11. Official misconduct G. Intelligence information may be collected from a variety of sources, including but not limited to: 1. Other law enforcement agencies 2. Public records 3. Business records 4. Telephone tolls 5. Disposed items and documents 6. Undercover agents 7. Confidential informants 8. Concerned citizens 9. Observations and surveillance 10. Crime line 36.1 CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE Page 3 of 5 H. Techniques that require electronic surveillance shall only be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida Statute 934. Electronic surveillance must be approved, in advance by the Chief of Police I. Photographic surveillance will be conducted only when it is necessary: 1. To identify any and all persons either as members or associates of known or suspected criminals or groups 2. To provide evidence of any illegal activity involving criminal enterprises or persons involved in such activity 3. To provide adequat e photos for operational plans J. All photographic and video surveillance shall be reviewed by the agency investigator to ensure persons not known or suspected of criminal activity or of being an associate of a group or individual involved in crimi nal activity shall not be placed in the criminal intelligence files 1. All photographs/videos that do not meet the objectives of this directive shall be immediately destroyed 2. All photographs/videos that do meet the objectives shall be attached to a report identifying the persons K. Certain activities are prohibited in the collection of intelligence data, such activities include: 1. Data collection merely on the basis that an individual or group is unpopular or supports unpopu lar causes 2. Data collection merely on the basis of ethnicity, race, religious or political affiliations 3. Data collection through illegal activity L. Officers may request of the agency investigator the use of intelligence gathering and eq uipment 1. The request shall be in memo form and outline the specific equipment requested and the anticipated use of the equipment 2. The memo must state what type of investigation is being conducted and the name and date of birth of those bein g investigated 3. The agency investigator shall notify the requestor, in, writing, of the outcome of the request, and any specifications regarding the equipment. III. INTELLIGENCE RECORDS A