Policy Text
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT (SIU)
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/01/05 STANDARD NO. 042 REVISED: 10/24/18
REPLACES: Rev. 09/01/09; Rev. 03/03/16;
OBJECTIVE: To provide procedures to control and investigate vice and organized crime
activities; to establish guidelines for transmittal of intelligence information; and to
define the criminal intelligence function.
POLICY: It is the direct responsibility of the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and other
appropriate investigative units of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to
operate in a concerted effort to investigate and apprehend persons involved in
organized crime, vice, and narcotics activities within the City of Homestead. It is
also the responsibility of all HPD personnel to work toward the suppression of
organized crime and vice activities. Information developed relating to illegal
activities will be maintained by SIU for intelligence purposes.
SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
I. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION:
A. Except in the strict discharge of duty, employees shall not reveal the existence of, or any
information regarding, Department projects, investigations, or operations aimed at the
apprehension of criminals or the suppression of vice activities.
B. The Investigative Services Division (ISD) captain, or designee, will supervise all vice,
drugs, and organized crime investigations and will advise the Chief of Police and the
command staff of all activities at daily and/or weekly staff meetings.
C. The full-time SIU, along with the special operations units, will investigate the following:
money laundering, prostitution, illegal use and sale of controlled substances, illegal
gambling, illegal use and/or sale of alcoholic beverages, distribution and sale of obscene
or pornographic materials, and other illegal activities. In keeping with this, the organized
crime control function will investigate unlawful activities by members of organized groups
or associations engaged in these illegal activities.
D. The Special Investigative Unit is comprised of specially trained detectives under the
command of the ISD captain, or designee. Special communication and electronic
surveillance equipment, as needed, is provided to assist in the overall accomplishment
of the agency goals.
E. The SIU supervisor will be responsible for the control of intelligence information
gathering for the Department.
II. OPERATIONS:
A. Complaints/Intelligence:
Special Investigative Unit (SIU) – SOP# 042
1. The purpose of this procedure is to establish guidelines for reviewing and
processing incoming information/complaints of vice and organized crime
activities. Any employee who receives information will complete an Intelligence
Report form, which will be directly forwarded to SIU.
2. The investigator’s findings will be reported to the SIU supervisor. Based on
these findings, the supervisor will determine whether or not the complaint will be
pursued. Factors to be considered in the investigator’s evaluation may include:
a. Evidence of a criminal act.
b. Source of reliability.
c. Timeliness of the information.
d. Potential for further in-depth investigation.
e. Previously reported similar information.
3. Information obtained by SIU will be acquired in a legal manner. The criteria for
the collection of criminal intelligence information stipulates there must be a
reasonable and legitimate need to do so, (i.e., threat to community), and that
information concerning political, religious, racial, or personal beliefs will not be
collected or retained unless such information is relevant to a report of known or
suspected criminal activity/suspects.
4. Additional agency resources:
a. In addition to the information provided by the initial review of the
complaint by the assigned investigator, the SIU supervisor will determine
if additional agency resources should be applied to the investigation by
utilizing all of the following criteria:
1) Validity of original intelligence information.
2) Criminal nature of the problem.
3) Priority importance of the problem.
4) Investigative techniques required.
5) Resources required.
6) Existence of operational problems.
5. Types of information collected through intelligence activities may include, but are
not limited to:
a. Criminal investigation information regarding activity.
b. Criminal intelligence information regarding persons.
Special Investigative Unit (SIU) – SOP# 042
c. Strategic (crucial) intelligence information.
d. Tactical (procedural) intelligence information.
6. Intelligence information received by SIU will be cross-referenced with other
sources gathered from the following:
a. Field interview cards.