Policy Text
Tarpon Springs Police Department
Confidential Informants
General Order # 231
Effective Date: March 15, 2021
Amends: #231 2/2015
Chief Jeffrey P. Young
231.01 POLICY
The utilization of confidential informants is lawful and often essential to the effectiveness of properly
authorized criminal investigations or intelligence -gathering activities. At the same time, such
utilization carries with it special challenges and ri sks that warrant prudent and responsible efforts.
Special care must be taken to carefully evaluate and closely supervise the use of confidential
informants. Due to the inherent dangers associated with the investigations of drug -related crimes and
other ser ious offenses, or similar concerns in any situation in which the use of a confidential
informant is anticipated, a priority of such operations is the safety of the persons involved, including
the confidential informant, agency personnel, target offender(s) , and the public. Law Enforcement
agency operational decisions and actions
regarding the use of confidential informants must keep the safety of involved persons a top priority,
and agency personnel should exercise the utmost care and judgment in order to minimize the risk of
harm to all persons involved.
231.02 PURPOSE
Criminal investigations often require the use of Confidential Informants to identify, investigate and
prosecute target offenders. This policy will set forth guidelines, accepted by the State of Florida and
required by “Rachel’s Law”, in recruiting, selecting and utilizing with the confidential informant. The
policy will be followed to preserve the safety of the c onfidential informant, law enforcement
personnel, the target, and the public.
231.03 DEFINITIONS
Confidential Informant : Any person who, by reason of his or her familiarity or close association with
suspected or actual criminals or
1. Who can make a controlled buy or controlled sale of contraband, controlled substances, or
other items material to a criminal investigation; or
2. Can or does supply regular or constant information about suspected or actual criminal
activities to a law enforcement agency; or
3.Can otherwise provide information important to ongoing criminal intelligence gathering
or criminal investigative efforts and who is, through such efforts, seeking to improve his
or her status in the criminal justice system.
A person’s improved status in the criminal justice system may include, but is not limited
to, avoiding an arrest, a reduction or modification of a sentence imposed or to be
recommended to be placed against him or her and whose association or cooperation wit h
law enforcement must remain unknown to those about whom the information is provided
or with whom one or more transactions occur.
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Although not defined by Rachel’s law, the Tarpon Springs Police Department will
consider individuals meeting the above de scribed criteria, who are not seeking
improvement of status but, rather, are seeking monetary compensation, as a confidential
informant.
Controlled Buy : The purchase (or attempted purchase) of contraband, controlled substances, or other
items material to a criminal investigation from a target offender which is initiated, managed,
overseen, or participated in by law enforcement personnel with the knowledge of the confidential
informant.
Controlled Sale : The sale (or attempted sale) of contrab and, controlled substances, or other items
material to a criminal investigation from a target offender which is initiated, managed, overseen, or
participated in by law enforcement personnel with the knowledge of the confidential informant.
State or local law enforcement agency : An agency having a primary mission of preventing and
detecting crime in the enforcement of the penal, criminal, traffic or highway laws of the state and that
in furtherance of that primary mission employs law enforcement officers a s defined at section 943.10,
Florida Statutes.
Target Offender : The person whom law enforcement personnel suspects will be implicated by the
activities of a confidential informant.
231.04 Factors to be considered in assessing the suitability of a co nfidential informant, prior to his/her use,
shall include :
1. The informant’s age and maturity;
2.The risk the informant poses to adversely affect a present or potential investigation or
prosecution;
3. The effect upon agency efforts that the infor mant’s cooperation becoming known in the
community may have;
4. Whether the person is a substance abuser, has a history of substance abuse, or is known by the
lead investigator or officer to be involved in a court -supervised drug treatment program or
drug-related pretrial intervention program;
5. The risk of physical harm that may occur to the person, his or her immediate family, or close
associates as a result of providing information or assistance, or upon the person’s assistance
becoming known i n the community;
6. Whether the person has shown any indication of emotional instability, unreliability, or of
furnishing false information;
7. The person’s criminal history and/or prior criminal record;
8. Whether the nature of the matter being inv estigated is such that the use of the informant is
important to, or vital to, the success of the investigation.
231.041 Each officer or personnel of the Tarpon Springs Police Department involved in the recruitment or use
of a confidential informant will be trained in accordance with these policies and procedures.
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231.05 Evaluation and Utilization of Confidential Informants , The law enforcement officer shall:
1. Conduct an extensive interview
2. Attempt to establish the informant’s motive(s)
3. Obtain as much background information as possible, including contact with law enforcement
agencies, prior use as an informant and criminal history record
4. Evaluate the informant’s usefulness a nd truthfulness
5. Afford any person who is requested to