Informants are a major asset in helping law enforcement win what seems to be a never-ending battle against drug abuse nationwide.
Dave Remiker of the Manitowoc County Metro Drug Unit says, albeit risky, they provide a valuable tool, dealing and associating with bigger dealers doing business around the lakeshore.
“It’s through interviews and investigation that we determine if the person we’re having contact with [the informant] is an addict and there selling to support their habit or there’s more of a criminal enterprise involved. Are they selling large quantities? Making a profit, do they have a large network? This is all on a case-by-case basis.”
Remiker says there are rules investigators must follow and parameters put in place that they must follow, which are generally set and cleared by the District Attorney’s Office.
“When we’re having contact with the informants, they’re not using or under the influence. There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it. There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into it including plenty of review on my part. Some of them might be on probation. so we have to contact Probation-Parole and go through them, so there’s a lot that goes into it.”
Although precise percentage success rates aren’t available, the local law enforcement official says that this “is the investigative direction that we need to go in, people that are on the inside who know best the inner workings of a drug operation.”
Remiker also reminds citizens to be vigilant, and if you see something, say something and report it to local law enforcement immediately.
