40 - COVERT OPERATIONS

I. COVERT OPERATIONS General Order #40 Effective: 3/20/2023 CFA 15.11 APPROVED: CHIEF CARLOS NORIEGA POLICY The North Bay Village Police Department is committed to the investigation and arrest of persons involved in criminal activity. Covert investigative methods are techniques available to identify principals and co-conspirators involved in organized crime. Guidelines are necessary to ensure officer safety and to meet operational objectives. Covert operations shall be used to investigate cases with care taken to safeguard individual constitutional rights. In all areas discussed within this directive, a great deal of consideration should be given to contacting outside agencies to assist in these operations. This method may be advantageous because outside participants may be either unknown to members of this community or because they have specialized knowledge and training not possessed by members of this agency (i.e., S.R.T. (Special Response Team)) DEFINITIONS Covert Operation: An operation conducted to avoid detection, which is divulged only to those directly involved in the investigation. Decoy Operation: An operation in which an officer poses as a potential victim. Surveillance: Close observation of a person or location.