Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 60
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS:
SUBJECT: Criminal Intelligence
EFFECTIVE: October 11, 2012
REVISED: July 23, 2015
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Policy
III. Definitions
IV. Procedures
Mission
Organization
Operational Standards
Compiling Intelligence
Analysis
Receipt/Evaluation of Information
File Status
Classification/Security of Intelligence
Auditing and Purging Files
I. PURPOSE:
This directive provides policy, guidelines and principles for the collection, analysis and distribution of intelligence
information.
II. POLICY:
A. Information gathering is a fundamental and essential duty of law enforcement agencies, which may be used
to prevent crime, pursue and apprehend offenders, and obtain evidence necessary for successful
prosecution. It is Sheriff’s Office policy to gather information on specific individuals and organizations if
there is reasonable suspicion (as defined by 28 CFR, Part 23.3 c) that such individuals or organizations
may be planning or engaging in criminal activity, that it be gathered with respect for the rights of those
involved, and to only disseminate it to authorized persons. While the collection of criminal intelligence
may be assigned to specific employees, and not just to those assigned to the Domestic Security Division
(hereafter Domestic Security), all employees are responsible for reporting information that may help the
Sheriff’s Office identify criminal conspirators and perpetrators.
B. It is also Sheriff’s Office policy to adopt the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for intelligence gathering, specifically: If an agency performs an
intelligence function, procedures must be established to ensure the legality and integrity of its operations,
to include:
GENERAL ORDER
Criminal Intelligence
GO # 60 PAGE 1 OF 5\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\n1. Procedures for ensuring information collected is limited to criminal conduct and relates to
activities that present a formal threat to the community,
2. Descriptions of the types or quality of information that may be included in the system,
3. Methods for purging out-of-date or incorrect information,
4. Procedures for the use of intelligence personnel or techniques.
C. This directive will remain consistent with the current language of 28 CFR, Part 23.
III. DEFINITIONS:
A. Criminal Intelligence:
Information compiled, analyzed, and/or disseminated in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor
criminal activity.
B. Strategic Intelligence:
Information concerning existing patterns or emerging crime trends that is designed to assist in the
development of criminal apprehension and crime control strategies, conjunctive with Sheriff’s Office short
and long-term investigative goals.
C. Tactical Intelligence:
Information regarding a specific criminal event that can be immediately used by operational units to
further a criminal investigation, plan tactical operations, or provide for officer safety.
D. Threshold for Criminal Intelligence:
The threshold for collecting information and producing criminal intelligence shall be the “reasonable
suspicion” standard of 28 CFR, Part 23.3(c).
IV. PROCEDURES:
A. Mission:
It is Domestic Security’s mission to gather information in a manner consistent with law, and to analyze it
for tactical and/or strategic intelligence regarding the existence, identity and capability of suspects and
criminal enterprises, and to use such information to further crime prevention and enforcement initiatives of
the Sheriff’s Office.
1. Information gathering in support of the intelligence function is the responsibility of each
employee, although specific assignments may be made by the Division Captain.
2. Information that implicates, or suggests implication or complicity, of any public official in
criminal activity or corruption shall be immediately reported to the Sheriff.
B. Organization:
Primary responsibility for the conduct of intelligence operations, the coordination of personnel, and the
collection, evaluation, collation, analysis, and/or dissemination of intelligence information is that of
Domestic Security.
1. The Division Captain shall collaborate with agency command staff to determine the manner and
frequency in which intelligence products will be disseminated.
2. To accomplish the goals of the intelligence function, and to conduct routine operations in an
GENERAL ORDER
Criminal Intelligence
GO # 60 PAGE 2 OF 5\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nefficient and effective manner, the Division Captain shall ensure compliance with the policies and
procedures, mission and goals of the Sheriff’s Office.
C. Operational Standards:
The intelligence function is often confronted with the need to balance information-gathering requirements
for law enforcement with the rights of individuals. To this end employees shall adhere to the following:
1. Information gathering for intelligence purposes shall be premised on circumstances that provide a
reasonable suspicion (as defined in 28 CFR, Part 23.3(c)) that specifies that individuals or
organizations may be planning or engaging in criminal activity.
2. Investigative techniques shall be employed in lawful manner and will only be so intrusive as to
gather sufficient information to prevent criminal conduct or the planning of such conduct.
3. As is reasonably possible, the intelligence function shall make every effort to ensure that
information added to the criminal intelligence base is relevant to an on-going investigation and is
the product of dependable and trustworthy sources of information.
4. Intelligence information possessed by the Sheriff’s Office may only be disseminated to
appropriate persons, where there is a need to know and a right to know the information, for the
performance of a law enforcement activity in accordance with law and Sheriff’s Office
procedures.
D. Compiling Intelligence:
1. Intelligence investigations files may be accessed by Domestic Security Detectives with sufficient
information and justification. This includes, but is not limited to, the following types of
information:
a. Subject, victim, and complainant information as appropriate; summary of suspected
criminal activity,
b. Anticipated investigative steps to include proposed use of informants, photographic, or
electronic surveillance,
c. Resource requirements including personnel, equipment, buy/flash monies, travel
expenses,
d. Anticipated results, and
e. Problems, restraints, or conflicts of interest.
2. Before accessing intelligence files, Detectives must complete a summary of their intended
investigation and submit it to their supervisor for approval.
3. Deputies/ Detectives shall not retain intelligence information for personal use or other
unauthorized purpose, but shall submit such reports and information directly to the Domestic
Security Division.
4. Information gathering using confidential informants or electronic, photographic, or related
surveillance devices or techniques shall be conducted in a legally accepted manner and in
accordance with Sheriff’s Office procedures.
5. All information designated for the use of Domestic Security shall be submitted by the Deputy/
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Criminal Intelligence
GO # 60 PAGE 3 OF 5\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nDetective and reviewed by a Domestic Security Supervisor.
E. Analysis:
1. Domestic Security maintains a process to ensure that collected information is subjected to review
and analysis to derive its meaning and value.
2. When possible, the above-described process should be accomplished by a combination of
Analysts and Detectives.
3. Analytic material (i.e. intelligence) shall be compiled and provided to authorized recipients as
soon as possible if meaningful trends, patterns, methods, characteristics, or intentions of criminal
enterprises or suspects emerge.
F. Receipt/Evaluation of Information:
Upon receipt of information in any form, the chain of command in Domestic Security ensures the
following procedural steps are take