Undercover in the 80's

[blues]

What it looked like for the most part...though I also had a Nagra taped in place to get a good recording if the Kel transmitter failed. (Something to play at my funeral, I guess.)

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5stz7YCeQG0/WXDjO8BdQWI/AAAAAAAAEm8/9cAJeoXVoRgDRBbEVTXz3KMsqxd_jag8QCLcBGAs/s1600/wired.png


What it felt like going to the meet:

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/its_always_sunny_in_philadelphia_season_3_episode_ 14_41_f880.jpg


Those were the days...;)


Be interested in seeing some of the new devices that can be shown in public without jeopardizing anyone in the field. If not possible, let's let it lie.

[TC215]

That got a laugh out of me. I started out using Kels...and the old transmitters that looked like pagers were still around, but we didn't use them.

We've come a very long way. I may have used a Kel-type wire once in the last 3 years. The technology is very different now. We used to run a covert camera to get video that was a separate device from the wire, and we'd watch the video back at the office after the op. Now the audio/video is generally combined, and we watch the video live. That's probably as a specific as I can get on an open forum.

[Hambo]

I thought that was Bob Odenkirk. ;)

[BehindBlueI's]

Be interested in seeing some of the new devices that can be shown in public without jeopardizing anyone in the field.


https://icdn.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/note-10-plusoneplus-7t-pixel-4-xl-iphone-11-pro-2-768x510.jpg

[Coyotesfan97]

All the “bugs” we had were notorious for not working. The best one was a fake tape measure for ease of carrying it. The fake pager was good too but it was pretty outdated. We used our brick phones. Call your partner and put the phone in your back pocket. We used them for cover/safety than evidence gathering.

[LittleLebowski]

#BluesThread (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=BluesThread)

[blues]

Over the years after my primary UC for 9 months, we had other stuff like baseball caps with transmitters, envelope transmitters, (that I once had a perp throw off the balcony of an Embassy Suites in Miami down into the Lobby / Atrium below...which taught us never to have a room that high up when we had to fight, since it was close to someone dropping quite a few floors), clock radio installations, pinhole lenses in walls and the best was our undercover warehouse which was setup for audio / video and had a separate monitoring room and a staging area for the bust team.

Nothing compared to today's technology.

I don't even know what those things are that BBI posted above. :cool:

[TC215]

Over the years after my primary UC for 9 months, we had other stuff like baseball caps with transmitters, envelope transmitters, (that I once had a perp throw off the balcony of an Embassy Suites in Miami down into the Lobby / Atrium below...which taught us never to have a room that high up when we had to fight, since it was close to someone dropping quite a few floors), clock radio installations, pinhole lenses in walls and the best was our undercover warehouse which was setup for audio / video and had a separate monitoring room and a staging area for the bust team.

Nothing compared to today's technology.

I don't even know what those things are that BBI posted above. :cool:

I know some North Miami guys that had a few warehouse setups over the years, and they had a lot of success with reverses. They smoked several guys in the warehouses, as well.

[Cory]

You are writing a book right? Please?

[blues]

I know some North Miami guys that had a few warehouse setups over the years, and they had a lot of success with reverses. They smoked several guys in the warehouses, as well.

One of my North Miami Beach guys got arrested. It really sucked because I did a handful of fun ops with him and even had him to my home. Fucker was getting paid off for info by some bad guys unrelated to our matters, as far as I know.

Still hurts.

Our warehouse was dope...literally. We had a guy from the late Bush 1 administration or early Clinton years come down to Miami so I could give him a dog and pony show at the site.

He eventually became the head of Interpol.

[blues]

You are writing a book right? Please?

I couldn't stand the scrutiny or publicity...and there would be a lot of heat going in various directions. I think I'd rather pick and choose the stories I tell. Less heartburn that way.

[Joe Mac]

I thought that was Bob Odenkirk. ;)

I thought it was Bob Odenkirk too! So that's you, Blues?

[Welder]

I couldn't stand the scrutiny or publicity...and there would be a lot of heat going in various directions. I think I'd rather pick and choose the stories I tell. Less heartburn that way.

Just saw this. Would love a thread in CC if necessary.

[Cory]

I couldn't stand the scrutiny or publicity...and there would be a lot of heat going in various directions. I think I'd rather pick and choose the stories I tell. Less heartburn that way.

I think one of the benefits of a book would be that it's entirely your choice. Tell whatever stories you want, with whatever names changed that you want, with as much or as little context as you want. Send the heat where ever you want, perhaps without clarity to exactly who it goes too. You could probably do it with a pen name, and publish through Amazon as an E book if you want.

It's no doubt an undertaking, and perhaps it's not something you're really interested in. I just know that you have a unique experience of an era of police work / UC / 80s Florida that has many many lessons that are being quickly forgotten. I'm sure there are also many stories and tales that are better off being remembered.

[rd62]

I pay a couple of bucks and spend a couple of evenings with a beverage to read those tales.

[blues]

Honestly don't think it's on the horizon. I enjoy writing, but I think I enjoy just spinning a tale among friends even more.

I won't say never...but I'm pretty sure that's the actual answer.

[blues]

I thought it was Bob Odenkirk too! So that's you, Blues?

Jimmy McGill.

[rd62]

Honestly don't think it's on the horizon. I enjoy writing, but I think I enjoy just spinning a tale among friends even more.

I won't say never...but I'm pretty sure that's the actual answer.

Well, I guess I could just come over for an occasional beverage and story uncle blues...

[Nephrology]

Page 2 and no Uzi pics yet? I watched Miami Vice and I know you are holding out

[blues]

Well, I guess I could just come over for an occasional beverage and story uncle blues...

I suppose you could at that. :cool:

[TheNewbie]

I feel privileged that I get to read blues stories. My favorite cop book was written by a Customs guy from the same era. Truly good stuff.


Thank you!

[Borderland]

Over the years after my primary UC for 9 months, we had other stuff like baseball caps with transmitters, envelope transmitters, (that I once had a perp throw off the balcony of an Embassy Suites in Miami down into the Lobby / Atrium below...which taught us never to have a room that high up when we had to fight, since it was close to someone dropping quite a few floors), clock radio installations, pinhole lenses in walls and the best was our undercover warehouse which was setup for audio / video and had a separate monitoring room and a staging area for the bust team.

Nothing compared to today's technology.

I don't even know what those things are that BBI posted above. :cool:

Cell phones?

[Gadfly]

In this movie I saw…. There may or may not be an entire large shopping center parking lot wired up with about 20 cameras on the parking lot. And in said movie, the cops may have always wanted to do their crook meets in that specific parking lot since they already had it hard wired for video and possibly audio, from 20 different angles, and night vision and thermal. Possibly. But it’s only a movie. It never happens in real life. Nope…. Never. Only in the movies.

And of course these days you can pack a transmitter in just about anything.

[Half Moon]

Cell phones?

Like, you mean... one of these?!? <raises eyebrow skeptically>

74945

[Borderland]

In this movie I saw…. There may or may not be an entire large shopping center parking lot wired up with about 20 cameras on the parking lot. And in said movie, the cops may have always wanted to do their crook meets in that specific parking lot since they already had it hard wired for video and possibly audio, from 20 different angles, and night vision and thermal. Possibly. But it’smon only a movie. It never happens in real life. Nope…. Never. Only in the movies.

And of course these days you can pack a transmitter in just about anything.

The sheriffs dept. had an unmarked pickup with a solid canopy on it. I was told it was chock full of electronic surveillance gear. Not sure how that was used but I'm guessing some type of cell signal intercept or maybe wifi monitoring equipment.

[Joe in PNG]

Page 2 and no Uzi pics yet? I watched Miami Vice and I know you are holding out

I thought it was MAC 10's or 11's. Rivi loved his MAC11.

[Borderland]

Like, you mean... one of these?!? <raises eyebrow skeptically>

74945

I think he said he worked with Crockett and Tubbs down there in Miami. But I wouldn't swear to it in court. ;)

[blues]

I feel privileged that I get to read blues stories. My favorite cop book was written by a Customs guy from the same era. Truly good stuff.


Thank you!

Thanks, Newb. It's fun to share them with you.

[Joe in PNG]

My favorite cop book was written by a Customs guy from the same era. Truly good stuff.

Thank you!

Which book, if I may ask?

[TheNewbie]

Which book, if I may ask?


Sixty Miles of Border.

https://www.amazon.com/Sixty-Miles-Border-American-Battles/dp/0425247627/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=60+miles+of+border&qid=1627532031&sr=8-3


The worst thing about it is that it makes me jealous of things I never got to do in a time that was probably pretty awesome to work in.

The good is it’s interesting and actually pretty funny.

[Joe in PNG]

Sixty Miles of Border.

https://www.amazon.com/Sixty-Miles-Border-American-Battles/dp/0425247627/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=60+miles+of+border&qid=1627532031&sr=8-3


The worst thing about it is that it makes me jealous of things I never got to do in a time that was probably pretty awesome to work in.

The good is it’s interesting and actually pretty funny.

Thanks- I'll give it a read.

[TheNewbie]

Thanks- I'll give it a read.

If you do, please let me know if you enjoy it. Recommending it, I hope you do!

[SouthNarc]

The covert transmitters of the 80s and 90s sucked. Most legit U/Cs still wore old school brick half-watt body wires with external mics and antennas. The trick was taping up in such a way that you could lift your shirt and show skin if someone wanted to do the pat down bullshit and call them a queer for wanting to touch you. Smoke and mirrors and it worked well if you could socially engineer it.

I can remember wearing a gun, a body wire, a Nagra, a Sony clamshell 8mm video recorder, a board cam sewn into my shirt, a mic for the clamshell, and power sources for all of it. It fucking blew.

[SouthNarc]

The old hat bug that used the polaroid camera type batteries actually worked well for sliding into a wallet. I used one on an Asian bath-house/steam-and-cream/prostitution gig where I got naked, folded all my clothes up and placed my wallet right on top of the folded clothes to capture center of conversation. Amazingly clear audio. And thank God those whores plead because I REALLY didn't want that audio played in court.

[lwt16]

When we ran reverse prostitution/John details, the girl cops would have a large can of soda that was actually the recording device. Pretty effective. That and they were dressed accordingly.

We told them not to smile much as that would expose that their teeth were healthy and numerous, thus giving them away as 5-0.

We had a female Lieutenant that told the four female officers to "not be too put together". She even said that they might want to skip hair washing, make up, etc. Even before the detail I said that was going to be a huge fail. These four showed up like they were going clubbing; perfect makeup, hair doos, clothing way too clean, and a couple had tatts that were obviously quality ink at a price point the hookers in my zone can't afford.

We had one though that showed up dressed the part. Greasy hair, no face paint at all, Newport hanging from her lip, ripped/dirty blouse, etc. I took one look at her at the pre-brief and said "Oh crap, we are going to run out of handcuffs and transport vehicles. "

Sure enough, she slayed them.

Regards.

[blues]

The covert transmitters of the 80s and 90s sucked. Most legit U/Cs still wore old school brick half-watt body wires with external mics and antennas. The trick was taping up in such a way that you could lift your shirt and show skin if someone wanted to do the pat down bullshit and call them a queer for wanting to touch you. Smoke and mirrors and it worked well if you could socially engineer it.

I can remember wearing a gun, a body wire, a Nagra, a Sony clamshell 8mm video recorder, a board cam sewn into my shirt, a mic for the clamshell, and power sources for all of it. It fucking blew.


The old hat bug that used the polaroid camera type batteries actually worked well for sliding into a wallet. I used one on an Asian bath-house/steam-and-cream/prostitution gig where I got naked, folded all my clothes up and placed my wallet right on top of the folded clothes to capture center of conversation. Amazingly clear audio. And thank God those whores plead because I REALLY didn't want that audio played in court.

LOL, Craig. It certainly did suck. I was sitting around the table with a bunch of wiseguys and their reps when they got the brilliant idea of having me strip.
I started to undo my shirt and while doing so had my thumb over the mic and told them, "If I'm getting undressed, all you hairy fat motherfuckers are getting undressed with me" at which point they looked at each other, mumbled and said they were just busting balls. My heart was pounding, I can tell you.


Never did a UC in a brothel, damn my luck...but it was the first raid I ever did only a few days into the job. It was in a building in lower Manhattan and it was run by one or another Chinese gang at the time.

Building was secured so I had to climb a fire escape on a building next door, jump from one roof to the other, go down a fire escape, go in a window and knock down a door with the supervisor who came over from NYPD to our outfit.

I was like a kid in a candy store, I had so much fun I'd have done the job for free.

On the way out, the "madam" patted me on the ass and told me to come back. My chest puffed out another couple inches on the way down the stairs.

I wished every day would be like that.

[TC215]

The covert transmitters of the 80s and 90s sucked. Most legit U/Cs still wore old school brick half-watt body wires with external mics and antennas. The trick was taping up in such a way that you could lift your shirt and show skin if someone wanted to do the pat down bullshit and call them a queer for wanting to touch you. Smoke and mirrors and it worked well if you could socially engineer it.

I can remember wearing a gun, a body wire, a Nagra, a Sony clamshell 8mm video recorder, a board cam sewn into my shirt, a mic for the clamshell, and power sources for all of it. It fucking blew.

It was always fun whenever a CS would go mobile with a bad guy (after being told not to), and you'd have to start chasing the signal from the transmitter trying to find your CS. With today's technology that's a non-issue.

[blues]

It was always fun whenever a CS would go mobile with a bad guy (after being told not to), and you'd have to start chasing the signal from the transmitter trying to find your CS. With today's technology that's a non-issue.

When I was working in strip clubs run by mob and motorcycle gangs, I'd occasionally get certain offers which I had to come up with an excuse to decline.

I'd go into the john and whisper into the mic that I got an offer I couldn't refuse and I was going to flush the kit.

I think I caused a few heart attacks with some of the older guys sitting outside doing surveillance.

Never jumped in a vehicle and went anywhere with any of the targets. That would have been grounds for an immediate stop and arrest.

[lwt16]

We had a slow day for calls for service one time and we kept having this problem hooker who wouldn't take "get off the curb" for an answer. She was working her normal street and causing the locals who couldn't afford to move after a life long mortgage chained them to that street and were too old to bother with moving to call all the time. My buddy and I came up with a hairbrained plan to grab one of the unmarked heaps we keep parked at the precinct forever and he would pull up on her and get her to solicit him. I was going to be the marked unit and once we got the heap Lumina to crank with some jumper cables (SOP violation #1) we headed back to her corner.

I asked him what he was going to do about the uniform he was wearing. He grabbed his raincoat that didn't have any PD markings and put it on, facing me with a ""there, I fixed it" look. I rolled my eyes and said that he was never going to get her to commit a crime as you could clearly see his gunbelt and gear printing badly. He said he could and since he typically coordinated the John details, I went along for the ride.

I parked out of sight and he turned his radio to a side channel (SOP violation #2) as he was still 10-8 available for calls. He said "If I get a call, raise me and tell me on side channel. I'll key up the entire time and let you hear the conversation. I'll run my body cam too that way we have evidence."

I was pretty skeptical that this hooker was going to fall for any of this. But whatever, it was a slow day and I was curious.

So he pulls up to her and she practically jumps in the car. I had binoculars and was sort of shocked how quick she did so and thought "aw crap, wonder if she's jacking him for that heap Lumina? How are we going to explain him getting stabbed or me having to shoot her thorough the windshield when this goes to crap and she has him hostage with a straight razor to his throat? "

Radio lights up:

Hooker: "You a cop? Grab my #&#y (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=y) so I know you're not a cop."
Him: "F that...I'm not grabbing your nasty ##&*y....you slinging that stuff everywhere. Get out of my Lumina!"
Hooker: "You got any bars? I'll suck your &^#$ for a bar. Or Oxy
Him: "You know that's illegal, right? It's called prostitution and that's illegal here."
Hooker: "You got twenty dollars? I'll do it for 20 bucks."
Him: "I ain't got no money, my wife gets it all."
Hooker: "How about cigarettes? I'll do it for a pack of smokes."

She never noticed him pull over to where I was parked while she was negotiating. I get out and ask her who's driving the car.

"He's my brother."

Me: "what's his name?"

Hooker turns to partner: "Hey what's your name? "

He's holding handcuffs and cuffs her.

Pretty sure she plead guilty. The constant calls stopped, the Captain was happy, and I had to buy his lunch. He was a cheap date though as a Grapico and a bag of Ranch Doritos was his typical meal.

Regards.

[Coyotesfan97]

Thanks- I'll give it a read.

I ordered a copy from Abe’s Books.

[Joe in PNG]

If you do, please let me know if you enjoy it. Recommending it, I hope you do!

About halfway through, and liking it so far.

[TheNewbie]

About halfway through, and liking it so far.


Have you got to the story about the agent who gave another agent a ride to National Guard training?


The stuff on how they did “warrants” in Mexico is also interesting.


Really glad you like it!

[Joe in PNG]

Have you got to the story about the agent who gave another agent a ride to National Guard training?


The stuff on how they did “warrants” in Mexico is also interesting.


Really glad you like it!

Yep, and the story of Doughnut.

[TheNewbie]

Yep, and the story of Doughnut.

I need to pull the book out, I don’t remember the doughnut one.


The National Guard story still makes me smile.

[beenalongtime]

What it felt like going to the meet:

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/its_always_sunny_in_philadelphia_season_3_episode_ 14_41_f880.jpg




What is that picture from? Makes me think of Running Scared, with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.

[MPG]

What is that picture from? Makes me think of Running Scared, with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.

Al Pacino in Serpico.

[beenalongtime]

Thank you!

Been a LONG time since I saw this movie.

[Rosco Benson]

Jimmy McGill.


Chuck would feel the electrical fields coming off any of these devices.

[willie]

Al Pacino in Serpico.

I got the impression that NYPD guys hated the policeman portrayed in Serpico. Is that an accurate assessment?

[Rosco Benson]

I think he said he worked with Crockett and Tubbs down there in Miami. But I wouldn't swear to it in court. ;)

That phone looks like the one that belonged to mmc45414 on the day "the furnace broke". I'm not going to tell the stupid story here, but it involved Hackathorn, SMG's, and big yellow gloves.

[blues]

I got the impression that NYPD guys hated the policeman portrayed in Serpico. Is that an accurate assessment?

I know of several that did. Can't speak for all. It was a tumultuous period for NYPD what with Knapp Commission and such.

[snow white]

What is that picture from? Makes me think of Running Scared, with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.

No that's the always sunny in Philadelphia spoof on serpico.