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Guidelines for Law Enforcement Intelligence Collection and Dissemination

• The purpose of law enforcement intelligence is to gather, analyze, and disseminate information about known or suspected criminal activity.
• The Special Investigations Division (S.I.D.) is responsible for maintaining intelligence reports.
• The collection of criminal intelligence must conform to existing laws and respect the privacy and constitutional rights of individuals, groups, and organizations.
• Confidential sources are protected and contact officers maintain an ongoing professional relationship with them.
• Intelligence is defined as information gathered or obtained regarding criminal conduct that is current, ongoing, or proposed.
• Each member of the department is responsible for reporting intelligence information to the S.I.D. in a timely manner.
• The S.I.D. is responsible for the control, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence information related to criminal activities that present a threat to the community.
• Intelligence information will be collected in a legal manner and only collected or retained when pertinent to criminal activities/suspects.
• Intelligence information will not be disseminated to any non-law enforcement agency or individual.
• The criteria for the collection of criminal intelligence is that there must be a reasonable and legitimate need to do so, and information concerning political, religious, racial, or personal beliefs will not be collected or retained unless relevant to known or suspected criminal activity/suspects.
• Intelligence information files will be decentralized from other department records and secured by the S.I.D.
• Personnel will be carefully screened and given additional orientation regarding the sensitivity of their duties and the importance of privacy, confidentiality, and public disclosure requirements.