AboutLoren Stevens Expertise Retired after 31 years in a large metropolitan PD.
Areas of expertise: COVERT OPERATIONS. Management, Administration, Inspections, U/C development, Project design, Ethics, and other related sub topics in COVERT OPERATIONS.
Question QUESTION: It told me too many follow-ups, I had to ask a new question.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your last answer:
Hello Caren,
Well, you are right about one thing....I'm not real sure what it is you are asking???
"HBO" stands for "Home Box Office"
People call the police for many things. Whether their perceived problem is real or imagined, is a difference with little distinction, as it is real to them.
Some issues appear to be picayune, but if you have ever paged through a city ordinance book, you'll discover an abundance of frivilous concerns.
On your story, much depends on her assignment and size of agency in the 80's. Some places had plenty of resources, others had to operate in a more modest environment.
The FBI has much more limitations than does a police dept. And, another big difference, are the "notification/authorization levels'.
In the federal service, anything of any significance requires authorization by higher authority. On a city police dept, most authorizations can be advanced by a Sgt.
If you have figured out what your featured player is investigating, I can better respond to areas that will be helpful.
Regards,
loren
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, I really don't know why I brought that HBO thing up ... but basically what happened, I had his food all bagged up and ready to hand out before he got to my window, that's what we call "Hand Bag Out," or HBO. Whenever that happens, we like to yell out "HBO!" because we're happy we were fast ........ So he told me HBO means something different to him, kind of strange to hear us yelling it ... he said it meant "Handled By Officer," for certain calls where there was no report necessary, such as getting a call for a basketball in the street. :D :D :D
So ...
Last night I was working on some stuff for my story, figured out what has to happen, etc. So ... there is this ultra-secretive terrorist group, all members throughout the entire group are sort of sworn to secrecy, their normal public lives that everyone sees are separate from their terrorist lives (as much as possible), the "terrorist them" even has a different name than the "'real' them" ... and so on.
There is one person, in Michigan, who is a pretty prominent member of the middle-eastern community there, he also may have some political ties. No one, outside of the secretive group, and the FBI, knows he's a terrorist ... but he is ...
He turns out to be a very important player in this group - he recieves orders from the "upper management" and relays them via email to the local players. He only communicates with his terrorist buddies via email, never face-to-face, never by phone, nothing that could potentially identify him.
Well, the FBI has figured him out, and instead of just arresting him right away and having some other unidentified person take his place, and having to do the work all over again, they've just surrounded him with a sort of "wall" ... they intercept everything going in and going out from his email.
Ok, that's all background, that will be explained, but isn't involving my main character.
Where she comes in:
Someone is deported. Ok. Well, it ends up being a key player in this terrorist org., someone not easily replaceable. I haven't quite figured out what's so special about this guy.
So, terrorist organizations plans are set back by the lack of this person. Email guy (who I call Mr. Reclusive) gets the (already read & filtered) message telling him what happened. He has a past associate from when he was a part of another terrorist org, Al Qaeda, perhaps, who can replace this person.
FBI intercepts this message, decides this may be their chance to stick someone in there.
Yes, this sounds like a huge coincidence, that it would just *happen* to be my character who can do this, but this is the first story ...
Plus, they need someone who is UC qualified (you have to take the certification class to work UC in FBI), and available to take this assignment. Has to be middle eastern, be able to speak Arabic (which narrows it down a LOT), then also has to know something about whatever specific thing this person needs to know about.
Ok. So, it's her. She already is quite familiar with this group, too.
Sooooooooooo ... she is going to meet face-to-face with someone from this group. They've set up time and place, etc. Got plenty of people hiding in the shadows in case something goes wrong. :D
This secretive group doesn't trust anyone. They're not going to suspect her of being a spy ... like she *is*, but they just don't trust her.
Now here's where I haven't gotten all the details all ironed out yet.
Basically, the guys she's going to be meeting with drive up, and before a word is said, grab her and throw her in their car and drive off. Our guys follow, but they're aware these guys are suspicious of anybody, she's nothing special ... perhaps the big issue is if they do anything, that will actually put her life in danger instead of keeping her safe .........
And, there's nothing to say they can't make a bad choice here. Maybe they should have done something different, but didn't. Who knows? I have nothing against people making mistakes, it happens in real life ...
Well, basically, they disappear with her. Then the story continues on to what else I've planned. :D
Well, this is really long now, I think I've given you enough for now :D
~Caren
ANSWER: Hello Caren,
In undercover work, basically. nobody trusts anybody....usually, there is no social fabric. Occasionally, there are bonds of friendship that evolve, but more often than not, it is all utilitarian.
Your story can take as many twists and turns as you want, or feel that is necessary to advance the saga.
But if this is about a mideast culture of "traditionalists", you must remember that women in that cultural environment are not seen as equals, or peers. You'll want to factor that in.
Also, in real life, if she is pleasant in her appearance or manner, one of these guys is apt to hit on her...or worse, and take liberties.
And, her mission needs to be outlined: what is it she is to be doing? what is the purpose of her being thee, and having to deal with these risks?
From the "badguys" point of view, why do they need her? what would they stand to gain, by pulling her into their secret operation...opposed to the risks?
She needs to be able to perform a needed task, know a desired body of knowledge, have access to wealth, recourses , contraband, or even instrumentalities.
"Trust" is a day by day area of interest. More to the point, what does she bring to the dance that the terrorists need/want, and can they get it from her ala carte, and w/o telling her details.
It would be a huge point to lay out. Would your heroine be an asset or liability to the terrorists?
What is compelling about her being in the loop.
And, "mistakes" in police work is said to be against agency policy.
Blame/credit are ongoing spotlights on all officers/agents.
sometimes, "mistakes" cannot be overlooked. It often brings attention an aspect of decision making, judgement, and other variations that just won't work in the operation.
It's more than a mere manners violation. Often times, "mistakes" are singular, never getting to be plural.
What else do you want me to address?
Work on her cover story, signals for help. what the end-game is, and measured risks.
Also, how far will the US Attorney let her be culpable in offenses? what kind of offenses can she engage in, for the furtherance of her cover/mission?
Good Luck,
loren
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hmmm ... I'm still working on all that :D
I still have to decide how dispensable those who make a mistake are ... I don't think any of them are important to the story other than just what they do there ........
"Also, how far will the US Attorney let her be culpable in offenses? what kind of offenses can she engage in, for the furtherance of her cover/mission?"
This is actually what I was going to ask you next. :D
ANSWER: Hello caren,
Well, there is a writers adage, that if what ever you are writing, doesn't advance the story, or help develop an essential character, it might as well be scratched....just a thought.
All U.S Attorneys do not make the same choices, given the same stimuli. And, there are guidelines in place, as is their covert operations guidelines from the US A/G for all the US Attys.
Of the many variables and considerations, some of the things you'd expect to be factored into the decision calculus include: experience and training of the UC Agent, Who/What the target...prize...yield is likely to be, how necessary is it for the UC to assume more than a passive role in an incident, not in the primary focus of her interests.
On top of all that, you can figure there will be no authorizations for crimes of violence, where injury or worse is likely.
No violence to senior citizens or juveniles, or handicapped persons.
Nothing that is apt to put somebody in apparent peril. No overt terrorism acts,
Nothing involving HAZMAT, chemical or biological munitions.
Things along these lines, a US Atty would be hard pressed to authorize.
Add to that any "Mann Act" activity, especially involving a juvenile.
In the past, I've done these things, where I also controlled the game. We did artificial shootings, phoney robbery's etc. But, and it's a big BUT, you have to be able to control ALL aspects of a stunt.
Hope this helps,
loren
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Ok ... I will be thinking :D
I brought up before that the reason *she* is chosen is because of some skill she has ... I thought that whatever it is, perhaps has come from a past UC assignment.
I'm still trying to figure out what it might be, but it has to be something another person can't learn quickly ...
On a different topic:
What is the training like to become a police officer?
Answer Hello Caren,
On your first part, I don't know if I can help you with that. You may just have to let your imagination run a bit.
All UC's are not the same. Some qualities that tend to be helpful, is that of being more extroverted than introverted. Good observation and memory skills.
I would caution you on one thing...if your heroine is an FBI agent, you'll want to pretty much stay within their jurisdictional areas of responsibility.
If she gets into a counterfeiting deal, that will require the Secret Service involvement, out of the Treasury Dept,, rather than the Justice Dept. If it's dope, DEA will need to be involved. If it's smuggling, Customs etc.
So, as you draft your outline, it may be helpful for you to keep that in mind..
On the training to become a police officer, it generally depends on the agency, and area of the country, and whether it is primarily an urban/suburban area of jurisdiction, rather than rural.
All get into Constitutional law, physical fitness, defensive tactics, firearms chemical munitions, non lethal weaponry, etc.
There is a lot of classroom, along with street tactics and field problem simulations.
Rules of evidence, local laws, state laws, fed laws, and an abundance of agency directives.
While you are in the academy, it is difficult to address much else in your life. There are very full duty days, and plenty of study at home, and continual preparation of your equipment for inspections.
