Operation Impact III Community Strategies

Enforcement Strategies

The Enforcement Strategies component of the Albany IMPACT Consortium plan are designed to support and take advantage of the Community Strategies by (2) increasing the ability to collect, analyze, and rapidly disseminate field intelligence leading to the apprehension of violent criminals; (2) reducing weapons possession and shots fired by increasing police presence in potential hot spots of criminal activity, and (3) targeting major violators through long term investigations.

These goals will be achieved through improved and increased investigations of gun related crimes through training, equipment, and information and intelligence gathering, analysis, and sharing.

  • Training of Albany Police Department officers in:
    • Citizen and Police encounters, to provide officers the tools necessary to solicit, develop and report information and intelligence from members of the community, and properly conduct:
      • “Stop and Frisk” activities
      • Interviews of witnesses and suspects,
    • Preliminary investigations, to improve the foundations for follow-up investigations and prosecutions of gun related crimes,
    • Crime scene management, to ensure that crime scenes are properly secured and documented,
    • Crime Scene evidence gathering and analysis to improve the capabilities of the Forensic Investigations Unit.
  • Equipment necessary to conduct investigations of gun related crimes:
    • Digital photography to record crime scenes, possible gang graffiti, and other evidence. This equipment would increase efficiency of the FIU, by eliminating the time lag created by the need to process film, allow for photos to be transmitted immediately to IMPACT Consortium member agencies, officers on the street (via MDT), and allow for the photos to be placed into electronic files.
    • Mobile Data Terminal equipment and software for investigative units.
    • Surveillance equipment to be utilized in conducting long term; covert investigations into individuals and groups involved in the illegal possession, trafficking, and use of firearms including:
      • Night vision equipment to be utilized by detectives conducting night surveillance of individuals or groups,
      • Binoculars for long-range viewing during surveillance,
      • GPS Tracking system to track the movements of individuals,
      • Digital audio/video recorders, required “notebook” computers with “air cards”, and pole cameras for use in surveillance and reconnaissance of buildings for search warrant service.
      • “Shot Spotter” gunshot location system. This system would be utilized to identify shots fired as they occur and would permit faster response to incidents involving the use of firearms within the city. This would reduce the amount of time spent locating the actual location of shots fired, pinpoint the location, and increase the likelihood that suspects would be captured at or near the crime scene. It should be noted that several recent incidents of shots fired were not reported by the public, including one incident in which an intended victim’s vehicle was shot, and the victim fled the scene, gave his vehicle to another individual, who attempted to report that the incident occurred in an area other than where the incident occurred. Such a system would make locating scenes of shootings and shots fired faster and contribute to the overall success of investigations and prosecutions. In addition, this system, used in concert with surveillance cameras, would also improve investigations into gun related violence.
  • Improvements in information gathering, analysis, and dissemination will include improvements in the use of:
    • Albany Police Department Investigation Reports. The procedure for completing and filing an investigation report will be improved to include:
      • Standardized “titles” for the type of information contained in the report. When completing an investigation report, the officer will use the appropriate title, which will ensure proper routing, recording, and dissemination of the information.
      • All investigation reports will be scanned, reviewed by the Albany Police Department Information Coordination Unit for analysis, dissemination, and entry into the appropriate database(s). Examples of standardized titles will include:
        • “Continuation of Investigation #____________”
        • “Officer Safety”
        • “Gang Info”
        • “Gun Info”
        • “Narcotics Info”
    • Albany Police Department Field Interview Reports. The procedure for completing and filing an FIR will be improved to include:
      • All Field Interview reports will be scanned, reviewed by the Albany Police Department Information Coordination
    • Unit for analysis, dissemination, and entry into the appropriate database(s).
  • Increased interaction, coordination, and interoperability between the Albany Police Department Information Coordination Unit, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, Albany County Probation, New York State Parole, the New York State Police, and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office corrections unit intelligence officer(s). This will be accomplished through:
    • The purchase and use of two computers with i2 intelligence analysis software by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. The purchase and use of i2 intelligence analysis software by the Albany Police Department.
    • The use of i2 intelligence analysis software by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. This will allow for seamless data sharing and analysis by the Albany Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Department, and Albany County District Attorney’s Office.
    • The purchase and use of several Printer/Scanner/Copiers to be used by the Albany IMPACT Consortium agencies. These units have the ability to scan documents and photos, and create electronic files, which will then be sent to the consortium agencies as appropriate, eliminating the tasks data entry, file conversion, and e-mailing. The use of faxes and paper copies will also be minimized or eliminated through this method. In addition, the information handled in this manner may be immediately disseminated, reducing time lag between the receipt of information, it’s analysis, and dissemination. The use of this equipment will also reduce the amount of time officers spend processing arrests. Currently, the officers must produce files of all paperwork for an arrest for: Albany Police Department Records, a “court file”, a file for the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, and a file for the Albany County Probation Department. For gun cases, copies must also be forwarded to the Albany Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit, Information Coordination Unit, and the BATF&E. The ability to scan the documents and send them electronically will greatly reduce the amount of time expended on an arrest, allowing the officer to return to his primary duties faster, and streamline the process of providing such information to IMPACT Consortium agencies. For example:

An individual is arrested at 3:00am for possession of a firearm. The arresting officer prepares an arrest record, court information, DA’s felony sheet, property report for the firearm, property report for the individual’s property, investigation report, prisoner debriefing form, and other associated paperwork. Instead of making several copies, which would take more time and not be viewed by the other agencies until several hours later, the documents would be scanned, an electronic file created and placed into the appropriate folders: District Attorney, ICU, CIU, BATF&E, Probation, NYSP GIU, and ACSO. The information would be available immediately, so that proper notifications and preparations can be made. For instance, the Corrections Intelligence officer would access the arrest information, and would know hours before the individual is arraigned that he may be coming into the facility and what the charges are. The individual could be researched through the IMPACT Consortium agencies’ databases for any gang affiliations or prior incidents which may have impact upon where in the correctional facility the individual will be housed. Likewise, the DA’s office and federal authorities would have immediate information to begin deliberations on the prosecutorial initiatives, and the NYSP GIU and BATF&E would have all case information necessary to begin tracing immediately.

  • Continued integration of officers of the Albany IMPACT Consortium. The integration of member agency officers will improve the information sharing and intelligence analysis and dissemination through relationships ranging from the administrators of the agencies to the line officers.
  • Implementation of “air card” technology for Albany Police Department mobile data terminals. This cellular technology creates a greater band-width for wireless transmission and receipt of data via the MDTs. It will be utilized for:
    • Wireless reporting, in which officers complete standardized incident reports on the MDTs. This will also streamline the data gathering, by eliminating the need to write reports, bring the reports to the station, have them reviewed by a supervisor, photocopied, delivered to the Detective Office and Administrative Services Bureau, and hand-entered into the RMS system. Reports would be generated on the MDT, forwarded electronically to the supervisor for approval, and entered electronically into RMS immediately. In this manner, information is readily accessible to IMPACT Consortium agency members far more quickly. In addition, mapping and analysis can be conducted on a nearly “live time” basis.
    • Transmission of daily and weekly briefs, as well as operations orders. Officers will have daily and weekly briefs, including crime maps, wanted persons, stolen vehicle information, missing persons, and operations orders transmitted directly to them and available on the MDTs. In addition, the increased bandwidth will also permit the transmission of digital video to the MDTs. An example of such use would be an armed robbery of a business. Most banks and businesses have improved their video security to digital systems. A copy of the digital video, obtained by the Forensic Investigations unit, could be sent via MDT to each patrol unit within minutes of the crime, increasing the likelihood of capture. Currently, such video is converted to still photos, which are distributed in paper form to officers.

Additional investigative improvements may include procedural initiatives for investigations of calls for “shots fired” and other gun related crimes including but not limited to:

  • A “100 Doors” initiative, in which each confirmed case of shots fired would result in personal interviews of at least 100 citizens in the immediate area for information,
  • Directives that would mandate FIU response to all calls for shots fired,
  • Directives that would mandate specific investigative measures be taken for all gun related crimes.
  • Directives that all appropriate criminal targets are entered into SAFETNet
  • Utilization of the UNYRIC intelligence center
  • Routine searches of abandoned building and vacant lots for hidden weapons and stashes of drugs.

The Enforcement Strategy component of the Albany IMPACT Consortium plan also includes High visibility patrols, consisting of Albany Police Department officers, NYSP Troopers, and Albany County Sheriff’s Department deputies. These high-visibility patrols would consist of:

    • “Blue/Grey” Patrols, in which NYSP Troopers partner with APD officers on routine patrol within the IMPACT zones
    • The IMPACT Interdiction team, consisting of eight NYSP Troopers, eight APD officers, one APD Sergeant, and one APD Lieutenant. The Interdiction team concentrates efforts within the IMPACT zones and provides a proactive “Positive Patrol” function within the zones.
    • Walking beats, consisting of APD officers and ACSO deputies, who provide a visible, community presence in areas outside the IMPACT zones which have seen rises in crime – possibly due to spatial displacement caused by the enforcement and investigative efforts within the IMPACT zones.
    • Special Details, consisting of APD officers, which are directed by the Station Lieutenants to address specific areas and crimes, identified through analysis, either in or out of the IMPACT zones.
    • Officers on routine patrol, who have been briefed daily on ALL activities, details, events, and information and intelligence. The officers will work in concert with those other initiatives, as well as carry out specific duties in order to raise their visibility and profile in the community, such as:
      • Property checks, in which officers pay visits to businesses, whether open or closed, to check the welfare and well-being of owners, employees, and customers.
    • Road Checks, in which officers are detailed to specific locations (usually street corners) to conduct checks of vehicles passing for seatbelt, registration, and inspection violations. These details are sometime accompanied by Parole and/or probation officers, NYSP Troopers, and ACSO deputies.

The Enforcement Strategy component of the Albany IMPACT Consortium plan also includes:

  • Utilization of the Albany Police Department Community Response Unit, in cooperation and coordination with:
    • BATF&E
    • DEA
    • Albany County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit
    • NYSP GIU
    • NYSP C-NET
    • USMS
    • FBI

The CRU mission will encompass:

  • Investigation of suspected drug dealers and suppliers,
  • Assist and support investigations into individuals or groups involved in illegal firearms possession, use and/or trafficking,
  • Gather and report information and intelligence on such individuals and/or groups,
  • Conduct long term investigations as described above in order to move “up the food chain” and target, investigate, and arrest drug and weapons traffickers at the higher levels,
  • Support daily, weekly, and long term initiatives,
  • Conduct “Buy and Bust” operations,
  • Develop, debrief, and utilize confidential informants.