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<br /> <br />Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 12 <br /> <br />Lexington Police <br />Department <br />Subject: Use of Confidential Informants <br /> <br /> <br />Policy Number: <br /> 42D Accreditation Standards: <br />Reference: 42.2.7 Effective Date: <br />7/1/12 <br /> New <br /> Revised <br />Revision <br />Dates: <br />1/24/19 <br /> <br />By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police <br /> <br /> The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is a private, nonprofit charitable affiliate of the <br />Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. MPI provides training and model policies and <br />procedures for police agencies. This policy is an edited version of MPI Policy 2.02 “Use of <br />Confidential Informants." <br /> <br />GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES <br /> <br />The Lexington Police Department recognizes the importance of confidential sources of <br />information. Such sources often provide critical information that leads to the successful <br />solution of many crimes. These sources may be of a reoccurring nature, or may initiate <br />a single interaction that results in the prevention of crime. <br /> The courts have long upheld the use of confidential sources as legitimate and <br />necessary tools for law enforcement. Each police officer should be cognizant of the <br />role of the confidential source and the need to use the source properly. Police officers <br />should cultivate all legitimate sources of information including witnesses, other police <br />officers, anonymous tips, and persons who may reveal information through casual <br />conversation. <br /> <br />The use of informants, however, requires detailed documentation and administrative <br />control. All actions by the confidential informant must be carefully supervised to provide <br />investigative integrity. <br /> <br />This policy will provide uniformity, accountability, and protection to officers and the <br />Lexington Police Department in official actions with confidential informants, and it will <br />also serve to enhance the effective use of confidential informants. <br /> <br />It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department that: <br /> <br />• Confidential informants may be used to enhance efforts to detect crimes, <br />investigate and prosecute criminals; and <br />• All necessary precautions shall be taken to protect the identity of confidential <br />informants and the integrity of the agency, and to guard against the <br />misconduct or misuse of confidential informants.