Drug Investigations for Street Officers and New Investigators by PATC

Drug Investigations for Street Officers and New Investigators

Instructor: Jess Stennett

Duration: 2.5 Days (20 PD hours)

Cost: $475.00 (excluding tax)

Schedule: First two days run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time; the final day runs from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM local time.

Course Overview

This training program equips officers with foundational investigative competencies needed to conduct drug investigations in a manner that is both safe and ethical. Participants receive current, practical information covering Drug Identification, Informant Handling, Consent Searches, Operations Planning, and Controlled Purchases. The curriculum presents general principles designed to complement rather than conflict with individual agency policies and procedures.

Core Topics

• Basic Drug Identification and Trends: Study the identification of illicit substances, street terminology, nomenclature, pricing, weights, clandestine laboratory operations, and the Uniformed Controlled Substance Act. The course also addresses physiological effects of illicit drugs and examines current local and national drug trends.
• Intelligence Gathering: Participants learn to identify available information sources and effectively utilize them to develop proactive drug investigations.
• Operations Planning: Training covers the secure planning of activities including covert surveillance, controlled purchases, and raids. Emphasis is placed on de-confliction procedures and maintaining operational secrecy and security.
• Voluntary Consent Searches: Often underutilized by investigators, consent searches represent a critical investigative tool. The course presents proven, legally sound, and ethical approaches to conducting consensual encounters effectively.
• Confidential Informant Handling: While confidential informants are valuable investigative resources, their improper use can create significant liability. Officers receive instruction on appropriate and ethical informant management, including understanding different motivations and mitigating associated risks.
• Controlled Purchases: Participants learn the fundamentals of conducting safe and ethical controlled drug purchases. Training addresses hazards, advantages, and disadvantages of various approaches, including the use of undercover officers.
• Case Study Analysis: Real-world narcotic cases are examined comprehensively from initial investigation through prosecution.
• Court Preparation: Recent shifts in how juries, judges, and prosecutors evaluate drug investigations, informant credibility, and evidence presentation are discussed. Officers are instructed on the critical importance of maintaining accurate documentation, delivering credible testimony, and presenting evidence professionally.