OPOTA INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS 2024 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Reasons to Conduct Surveillance To verify the reliability of information, a tip, or complaint received. To protect a government official or other dignitary To obtain sufficient evidence in order to make an arrest or to secure a search warrant To aid in the apprehension of wanted persons or suspects To prevent the commission of a crime To determine locations or drop points of illegal or stolen items To determine residences and hangouts of the surveillance target To study the physical layout of a structure to assist in determining the most feasible method of conducting a raid or approach for an apprehension or rescue Mobile Foot Surveillance Usually during a dignitary or witness protection detail By nature, it is the least covert method of surveillance Usually conducted in a large crowds of people Is most successful with multiple officers The target can be handed off to other officers if necessary Brainpower Read More Vehicle Surveillance Officer Considerations - Ability to Conduct Simultaneous tasks Operate recoding equipment Maintain radio contact Note taking Vehicle Surveillance Officer Considerations - Ability to react to or anticipate the subject's moves Subject changes vehicles Subject enters high traffic situation Vehicle Surveillance Officer Considerations - Interference from People Subject's associates potentially conducting counter surveillance, Innocent bystanders Vehicle Surveillance Officer Considerations - Interference from Traffic Congestions, Construction, Traffic Signals Vehicle Surveillance Officer Considerations - Multiple Subject Vehicles Be aware the subject could possibly be traveling with associates in other vehicles that might be aware of an officer's presence Vehicle Surveillance Techniques - Shadowing One officer in one car following the subject Vehicle Surveillance Techniques - Paralleling One or more officers traveling along parallel streets, if subject makes a turn, the paralleling unit can resume the shadow, useful in urban areas Vehicle Surveillance Techniques - Leapfrog The lead car slows down and allows another officer to pass and become lead car, useful if the lead officer feels the subject is getting suspicious Vehicle Surveillance Techniques - Progressive Conducted in stages, the subject is followed from each point of travel, can be time consuming depending on how long the subject stays at each location Vehicle Surveillance Cautions - Following to Close If the target makes a stop, make sure to not get boxed in, always allow room to move around the subject's vehicle if you need to leave quickly Vehicle Surveillance Cautions - Interstate / Highway Shadowing Allow as much distance as possible to avoid detection, you do not need to see the subject, just the subject's vehicle Fixed / Stationary Surveillance An officer maintains a continuous view of the suspect, the suspect's location, or a location the suspect is expected to return to Special vehicles are especially useful for this type of surveillance, Make sure they are appropriate for the neighborhood Remember officer safety - if you can see the subject, the subject might be able to see you Electronic Surveillance Can range from simple monitoring of social media websites to complex wire traps