What are the rules for working undercover as a cop?

May 14, 2012 9:21 AM

What rules are there for (American) law enforcement types operating undercover? What sort of things are they barred from doing?

From reading several autobios of CIA officers, I'm familiar with the rules for espionage, but not law enforcement. Are there covers that cops (Feds and/or locals) are not allowed to use? Rules for how close/involved officers can get with civilians during their investigations?

Also, presumably an undercover cop might witness significant criminal activity during an investigation and yet maintain cover, but is there a point (I presume if someone's life is at risk?) when they are obligated to intervene & arrest if able?

If it helps, I'm particularly interested in FBI/Federal investigations rules. I'm asking in relation to a writing project; I'm not trying to out anyone as a cop or anything.

posted by scaryblackdeath to law & government (5 answers total)

I have received ongoing training in my secondary field from a person who used to train undercover cops. He would start each class by saying, "Unlike in the movies, undercover cops cannot actually take drugs. They learn techniques and styles to be involved in drug operations without actually taking the drugs."
posted by TinWhistle at 9:34 AM on May 14, 2012

You might find this article interesting
posted by Blasdelb at 9:41 AM on May 14, 2012

If you want to read a good book that addresses this at many points throughout, get Under and Alone, about an ATF agent who successfully infiltrated the Mongols MC (he eventually became treasurer). He goes into some detail about how he couldn't take drugs and had to go to some lengths to either make excuses for not taking them or act like he was taking them and then sweep them under the rug. He also describes rules regarding intervening in crimes happening around him; for example, he would have had to blow his own cover if someone was about to be killed. It has been a while since I read it and so I don't remember all the details, but considering how far he went I was surprised at how strict the limits on what he could or could not do were. If you like that sort of thing it is well worth a read.
posted by TedW at 10:38 AM on May 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Another thing to remember is not just what the official rules are, but what the unofficial standards are. For example, I believe there are rules against undercover officers engaging in sexual and romantic relationships with civilians they are investigating as a cover, but it happens often enough that there have been charges that it is unofficially sanctioned behavior.
posted by corb at 10:45 AM on May 14, 2012

Robert Wittman, the founder of the FBI's (since disbanded, I think) Art Crime Team, talks some about this kind of stuff in his book Priceless, which is not a great work of literature by any stretch but it's got enough interesting parts that I found it to be worth reading.
posted by mskyle at 12:57 PM on May 14, 2012