Inside a Police Informant's Mind

Written by a former informant, Inside a Police Informant’s Mind presents an honest account of the role, risks, and motives of police informants. It chronicles the relationship and course of events between the author and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner. The author provides a fascinating insider's perspective on the working relationship between an informant and those in law enforcement who handle informants. The book gives balanced insight into the thoughts of both the police and the informant, addressing the hazards of manipulation by both parties. It highlights the importance of trust, communication, and understanding as means to bridge those hazards. Also, it demonstrates the difficult shift in lifestyle being an informant entails. After testifying in court, Paul Derry’s life was placed at high risk of retribution, necessitating his entry into a witness protection program. He reflects upon the process of entering a witness protection program and life afterward, not only for himself but also for his family. This autobiographical account is a must-read for police officers and informant handlers and is an especially useful source for intelligence gathering. The vivid, real-life accounts of Inside a Police Informant’s Mind are as revelatory as they are engrossing. It is a great addition to any collection of books on law enforcement and criminal justice.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Irwin M. Cohen MOTIVATIONS OF AN INFORMANT Blood Brothers The Agent’s Perspective The Handler’s Perspective Blood Money Police Pay The Real Money Streets of Blood The Criminal World The World I Lived In A Short Sentence Dealing with Fear Ulterior Motives Paranoia and Diversion The Thrill and Excitement A Day’s Work Adrenaline Rush Cold Call Cold Blooded Breaking Bread with My Target Revenge Easing Guilt A Pat on the Back Taking the Train Building a Career Police Study Controlling Conversations Witness Protection Coordinators Gathering Intel for Manipulation Pushing Buttons CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRONG SOURCE HANDLER Dedicated to the Job To Serve and To Protect When They Break When They Are Broken The Price of Policing A Picture of Dedication Trust First Time Trust in an Unlikely Situation Trusting with My Life on the Line The Need for Trust Empathy An Example Training Another Example Caught, Not Taught Understanding Motives A Good Day to Die Evaluating Informants Looking Within Clear and Concise Communication Getting Through Control and Humility Observation Post A Personal Example The Other Side of the Story Outside the Prison Walls Resilience On Call Dramatic Intervention Innovative Thinking Quick Thinking Sense of Humor A Macabre Tale A Fish Story Inhumane World A Vital Skill Discernment Nervous Waiting A Gut Feeling An Open Question An Encounter with Wolves Complacency and Alertness Witness Protection Coordinators Professional Moral Compass By the Book Intelligence and the Wisdom of Experience Only the Best Partners in Crime Brent Mikey Steve Andy and Mike Chris and David Ultimate Partners LOOKING BACK Blank Stares Gifts and Curses of an Informant Curse Gift of Gab Women Taking a Life Perspective Prevention Is Better Than Regret Hours on the Stand Betrayal Collateral Damage The Truth Will Set You Free Life and Death Lessons for Handlers Life as a Rat The Care of My Boy Cling Like a Barnacle It’s an Addiction Witness Protection and Starting Over Disorientation Old Habits Finances and Bookkeeping Being Hunted Better Option Final Thoughts Reckless Dangerous Rachel’s Law The Handler’s Perspective Last Words Appendix A: Police Perspectives on Paul Derry as a Source Appendix B: Words between a Source and His Handlers

About the Author :
Paul Derry was first used as a source for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) when he was under the age of eighteen. He was coded officially in 1988 and worked as a source until a botched operation resulting in the death of Sean Simmons in 2000. He was arrested and agreed to provide information on the other participants in the murder in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Since leaving the world of crime, he has received a federal pardon from the Canadian government for his work regarding criminal justice and victims of crime. He is the author of Treacherous: How the RCMP Allowed a Hells Angel to Kill. More about Derry can be found at www.paulderry.ca, and he can be contacted at info@paulderry.ca.

Review :
"This book is not just another `true crime’ story, but an important cautionary tale for police that should be read by every police officer, especially those who identify, develop, and work with informants and agents. …Derry describes the emotional, psychological, and physical toll that this work takes on both the informer and the handler. This book brings the reader into the world of a police informer and sheds some light on the complicated and challenging relationship between the police informer and their handler." —Dr. Irwin M. Cohen, from the Foreword "Over my 35 year career as a criminologist I have read hundreds of books about crime and criminal justice issues. This book was far and away the most interesting." —Darryl Plecas, PhD, University of the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada "Outlaw biker gangs, hit men, drugs, sex, and murder. Ingredients of stories that captivate audiences in books and on screen. But An Informant’s Mind is not fiction; far from it. Derry’s accounts of the glamourous, repulsive world of organized crime, and the role of the police handlers attempting to protect us from it, offers a view into the real world of crime that most people are oblivious to. An Informant’s Mind should appeal not only to law enforcement personnel and students of criminal justice but also, to wider audiences whose eyes will be opened in learning the day to day crimes, brutalities, and fear experienced by offenders as well as the courage, dedication and morality of law enforcement working to stop them." —Tim Croisdale, PhD, California State University, Sacramento, USA "In my years as a social scientist and my work in criminal justice, I have never been exposed to such a provocative personal story. I hope this modern day hero’s account will shine a light bright enough to change the lives of those who read it, and cause a re-examination of the policies and the challenges he exposes. Mr. Derry’s accurate insights are a must read for all criminal justice personnel and public alike." —Geri Bemister, North Island College, British Columbia, Canada "This book is real and to the point. Looking into the heart and soul of informants, it provides a great perspective on how we "cops" should treat and deal with them. A very interesting and informative read." —Detective Steven Bergen, Lubbock Police Department, Texas, USA