Violent Crimes Task Force

Dan Hunter is now 51 years old and a Master Sergeant in the state police. His primary focus has been a law enforcement entity called the Violent Crime Task Force. Originally federally funded and now regionally supported the task force focussed on the kind of crimes most people fear, homicide. The task force worked both on investigation and prosecution of violent crime from organized gangs to random acts. According to Dan, "Working on the Violent Crimes Task Force has been a highlight of my career. Among other things I've had the opportunity to work with other agents on old unsolved homicides. police departments and worked these cases. It is really very satisfying to close a case that has been like an open wound to the family and friends of a victim." During the four years the task force was in effect as a federal entity, 115 arrests were made, 70 for first degree murder. The crimes solved had been on the books from two to twenty-four years. "We even solved a case which had been unsolved since 1961. Without this unit there would have been proven criminals walking the streets, many of them multiple killers." The federal grant ran out after four years and work now continues under the heading of the major case squad. Obviously Dan believes he has done important work, and the facts bear this out. So how does one come to do such service for the community?

Dan graduated from college in 1970 with a major in history. At that time the federal government had passed legislation generally referred to as the Safe Streets Act. Through this legislation the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) was established. This agency funded a wide array of law enforcement and crime fighting initiatives across the nation. In some instances new programs in criminal justice studies at universities were established, in other instances, states created mechanisms for the distribution of funds to local police departments for training, equipment, and personnel, as well as citizen groups for safe neighborhoods. In still other cases, states created new agencies. It was in this latter case that Dan began a career that has spanned nearly 30 years. The same year he graduated from college the state where he lived created a bureau of investigation. Dan had begun to develop an interest in criminal justice issues, as these were major national concerns at that time. So, he decided to pursue career options in that field. Through another federal program Dan was enrolled in a master's degree program in criminal justice, graduating in 1976. In the intervening time Dan completed the state police academy and had gone to work for the state's bureau of investigation.

For seven years, including the time he was in graduate school, Dan worked as an undercover agent in the southern half of the state. According to Dan, "I was young and motivated, and the job was both exciting and stressful. It was actually fascinating because you were learning how to fit in with all kinds of people. Knowing the law was one thing, but understanding people was really the most important skill. I had to dress the part and talk the part. In those days we were focussing on narcotics and other drug related crime, as well as organized crime in general. This meant that I typically had long hair and a beard, and I had to learn how to 'rap.' That's what we called it then, and while it would sound kind of silly today there is still a kind of 'rap,' it's just different. Basically you had to sell yourself to those involved in crime. You especially had to gain their confidence. This not only provided you with access to information which was ultimately necessary to your case, but it protected you. You had to be believable. If not, you, or your undercover colleagues, could be in jeopardy, let alone wasting your time. You see, in undercover work the final product is your testimony in court. This differs from the usual focus on evidence which you would have in investigating a homicide. You have to be, as nearly as possible, one of them, in order to know this culture and how they work. Finally, it was stressful. I was on the road a lot. Eventually you have to move on. It's not possible to be on undercover indefinitely. You run the risk of being discovered." As was mentioned, Dan was in a graduate program at the same time as his undercover work. He felt that this was especially interesting in light of his classes. "I was able to see both the academic and applied sides of the issues we studied. In this way, I think I was really able to get the most out of the program."

After seven years Dan transferred to another part of the state where he worked on a different kinds of criminal activity for the bureau of investigation. Here he developed a wider array of invetstigating skills. In particular, he began to catch up on the latest investigatory technologies. For example, these now include DNA research and automated finger printing. Such technologies are important in several different ways. On the one hand it certainly helps in making specific cases against specific criminals. It also helps law enforcement in some ways stay ahead of the criminals. It is not possible to be everywhere and crime is likely to take place where law enforcement is absent. However, new developments in technology allow law enforcement to deter some crime. Of course, criminals learn and their tactics evolve, and technologies are generally known and available. It is just that crime fighting research has promoted our abilities in investigation, and technology is one important tool.

After a couple of years the state's bureau of investigation and the state police were merged. As much as anything this was a matter of finances. While Dan saw some positives, such as a larger force or manpower, the merger was full of challenges. His new role was that of crime scene analyst, and he had standing as an officer of the state police. The biggest challenge, according to Dan, ". . . was a new concept of organization. I had spent about 9 years learning law enforcement according to one kind of system. I knew what my objectives were, and I knew the people in the agency. You must understand that whether you are doing undercover, as I used to do, or you are working as an investigator, it is a matter of teamwork. You have to be able to coordinate well with others. Sometimes investigations proceed smoothly and at other times it is more halting, with information coming in all at one time or not at all. Because of this it is really very helpful to have others you can rely on whenever you need specialized input. So, it helps to know people well. In the old bureau I knew others and others knew me. Now, merged with the state police, I had to learn not only new systems, but also new people." The fact is, crime is always inconvenient for investigation. And no matter how much the organization might try, it is impossible for everyone to know everything about crime scene analysis. It has even been known that law enforcement officers unfamiliar with certain investigatory needs, have inadvertently complicated the process, or even destroyed evidence. For example, timing can be all important, but a slow response could result in bad weather destroying a crime scene.

According to Dan, "This work involves a lot of agency overlap. People are territorial, and other law enforcement officers are people, so you must develop productive people skills. In some ways my years on undercover sharpened those skills. Just as I had to be able to 'rap,' I now have to be able to have rapport. Good relations are essential. Even if I believe, or in fact know for sure that I am right about a situation and others are wrong (or just uninformed), I cannot just take over an investigation. I must work with the others involved. The skills here are common sense and an ability and the insights necessary for communication. You have to ask, rather than tell, inform instead of conceal, and be part of the team instead of appearing to be an elite. In other words, just be careful."

Dan spent most of the next dozen years working specifically within the state police system, learning its ways and people. In 1992 the Violent Crime Task Force was created through another federal grant. For four years Dan was back in the kind of investigating environment in which he had begun. Dan's opinion on this time as a career "highlight" is already documented. The focus here is on the evolving nature of law enforcement. Recall the developments in law enforcement technology. But this is just one aspect. Dan's whole career has been significantly influenced by development, change, and opportunity. For example, Dan graduated just after the federal government began distributing major amounts of money into new law enforcement programs, which produced new agencies and resources. So, Dan went to work for a new state bureau of investigation and was put through school by means of a law enforcement education initiative. So it was in 1992 that Dan again rode the coattails of another new initiative-- the Violent Crime Task Force. Such is the nature of law enforcement. As Dan says, "There are all kinds of government grants, in particular federal grants, out there for the taking. What you need is an awareness of them, a recognition of their potential value, and a willingness to write for them. In my work, proposals are written nearly every month. This means that agencies and communities will vary in their ability to fight crime. It is not an even distribution of law enforcement resources across the board. But this is just the nature of the system. You need to know where the opportunities are and how to take advantage of them. If you don't, you will fall behind."

The grant for the Violent Crime Task Force soon ran its course, but Dan still works at the mission of the task force, only in new ways. "We still work as a unit, but more informally. There is no special name for our unit, but people know about us and we are called in when our expertise can be of help. We also work with the metropolitan area's major case squad. One change is fewer older cases and more immediate ones. Being more informal as a unit actually requires more comprehensive communication and organization skills. You have to have a lot of personal contacts. You must be cooperative and flexible."

So, what should students be thinking of doing now, if Dan's career holds interest for them. "The first thing is to follow your interests." Dan wants it known that, "There is great diversity within law enforcement. There are all kinds of special units. So it is possible to access law enforcement by a wide variety of means. Pursue whatever interests you have. However, be sure to gain experience." As with his advanced studies, Dan felt he learned so much more in class when he had relevant experiences as a point of departure and comparison.

While the state police academy generally requires only two years of college, the four-year degree is becoming a much more common expectation. Competition will make it nearly required. Related to this is the need for more wide-ranging means of communication. For example, foreign languages are necessary in all metropolitan areas. Some departments may even require it of new hires. Dan has seen real growth in needs for Spanish and Asian language skills. In another vein, Dan recommends strong writing skills. This is especially necessary if grant writing is to be a tool by which resources are accessed. This in turn presumes a basic knowledge of computers. And, an extension of this is data management. You must know how to access and manipulate data. Finally, "You must, above all else, know how to get along with and understand people. To fail in this regard is to fail to get the job done." Think of those 115 arrests, with 70 for first degree murder, without such skills.