Criminals as well as terrorists signal illegal activity either unwittingly or perhaps in some cases with disdain and contempt for those who are positioned to watch for such behavior. The ability to detect that signal from the din of constant activity intrinsic to daily operations is crucial. Recognition and collection of the signal must be complemented by a robust analytical capability to match with similar signals to discern potential patterns of activity and generate operational leads. In large measure that capability is a key component of the existing and emergent fusion centers.
It strikes me that my colleagues Brian Kelly and Barry McManus (see p. 27 and p. 30) have, without collaboration, provided an excellent platform for discussion on signals – intentionally obscured, concealed, disguised, or recast, yet each hidden in plain sight and knowable to the trained observer. Both view the world through an Intelligence Community lens, yet each has seamlessly translated that knowledge and experience into an application for law enforcement. In Brian’s case through the discipline of counterintelligence, and Barry with the deciphering of human behavior and integration of that knowledge into a training program applicable to public safety officers.
Our Nations’ law enforcement officers are uniquely positioned, yet not always adequately trained to understand the criticality of the counterintelligence mission. Law enforcement largely understands the need to penetrate criminal organizations through confidential informants and undercover officers to gain the best intelligence to disrupt operational activity, dismantle the organizational structure and any preconceived plan for leadership succession, and, ultimately, to build a prosecutable case. The fundamental policing skill of persistent observation is vital yet incomplete without the understanding of the risks posed by a different form of adversary, whose coin is the complete evisceration of the tenets of a free and open society by whatever means, including the targeting of law enforcement officers and the undermining of critical infrastructure those officers are responsible for safeguarding. The inherent internal human radar of law enforcement so effectively utilized against criminal enterprises and individuals is not generally focused on even the idea of hostile targeting. It is an often invisible force, hard to identify, harder to articulate, and insidious by nature.
Brian illustrated the most egregious of threats posed by trusted individuals inside the wire, though many more are likely to operate and hide in plain sight, much like Russian spy Robert Hansen did, mocking the very system they have been part of for decades. In hindsight, the cumulative noise of his signals and others like him was deafening, yet went unheard and unaddressed. Organizationally, it is antithetical to the bonds which exist behind the blue wall of law enforcement to believe that a fellow officer could willingly collaborate with a hostile nation, or individually to recognize an approach at compromise which is unfamiliar and appears innocent.
The CI skill set resides within the intelligence community and military services which highlights an enormous opportunity to collaborate with law enforcement and to share best practices across these communities of interest, acknowledging in advance that mission responsibilities do in fact differ, that there are legal considerations, and organizational cultures skilled at compartmentalization are not traditionally adept at sharing. Not withstanding, the opportunity to share the specialized training may in fact obviate future penetrations, or at a minimum, detect them early enough to mitigate potential damage.
The “Human Audit” training which Barry McManus refers to in fact puts science behind the art of streetcraft, which has been both refined and passed down through generations of policing, formally and informally, and is continually enhanced by the experiences of police officers involved in the inevitable waltz with violators, some smart and some dumb, but all of whom attempt to outwit those destined to pursue them. If in fact the training does equip an officer to reliably detect deception and, potentially, intention, the proficiency will provide a reinforced layer of officer safety, and additionally, provide the means to vett informants, witnesses, and victims alike, and to dramatically improve the cultural/contextual obstacles confronted daily by police officers in Diaspora communities.
The ability to read an emotion without benefit of a spoken or understood communication capability would seem an indisputable precept of training at all levels of law enforcement. This training is adapted to practitioners and requires active interaction with native-born role players and a constant feedback loop to test skill assimilation throughout the training cycle. Law enforcement officers have limitless opportunities to apply the training in daily operational activity whether dealing with civil or criminal issues and are better prepared when confronted with a new form of adversary.
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