LETA’s Standards and Protocol

FOR THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL USE OF THERMAL IMAGING IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT A. The mission statement of the Law Enforcement Thermographers’ Association is to “Provide Legal and Ethical Thermal Imaging in support of law enforcement.” (including certified training seminars/schools on four levels; Basic, Advanced Recertification, and Instructors; Legal Updates; a newsletter; and numberous clinics and seminars.) B. “LETA” maintains and endorses the scientific fact that thermal imaging surveillance is passive and non-intrusive. C. “LETA” maintains the position that no search warrant is required to conduct a thermal surveillance. (however due to the usa supreme court decision, us v. danny lee kyllo 2001, LETA subscribes to the issuance of a search warrant for any thermal scan involving a persons residence or where the curtilage is evident.) D. In addition, “LETA” endorses qualitative analysis of relative heat differences in support of probable cause to obtain legal search warrants. (as long as additional items or corroborating events of probable cause exist.) E. The same standards and protocol shall apply to thermal imaging systems operating from airborne platforms as well as ground based systems. F. Each law enforcement thermographer shall be certified per “LETA” training standards in one of the following three (3) classifications: --- -Basic,----Advanced,----Instructor. G. “LETA” subscribes to the drug enforcement administration thermal imaging basic training course and thus accepts the drug enforcement administration basic certificate as criteria for “LETA” advanced and/or instructor ratings. H. “LETA” has written, approved, and certified training courses at the basic, advanced recertification, and instructor levels. The purpose of all four (4) levels of training is to standardize law enforcement thermography in accordance with current federal, state, and local laws. I. Additionally, it is “LETA’s” intent to comply with all approved law enforcement policies and procedures. J. “LETA” recognizes twelve (12) current law enforcement applications for the use of thermography. these applications are not finite, nor limited in number as law enforcement has, and will continue to develop new applications as the law and science evolve. K. As of the publication of these standards and protocol, the twelve (12) law enforcement applications are as follows: General surveillance: 1. Search and rescue 2. Fugitive searches 3. Vehicle pursuits 4. Flight safety 5. Marine and ground surveillance 6. Perimeter surveillance 7. Officer safety Specialized surveillance: 8. Structure profiles 9. Disturbed surface scenario 10. Environmental law enforcement 11. Vehicle compartments/profiles 12. Accident investigations/skidmarks L. No broad area searches will be conducted in support of specialized surveillance applications. Specialized surveillance will be conducted only when supported by specific, corroborating items or events of probable cause. M. Until specific thermal imaging science evolves, “LETA” does not endorse the use of thermal imaging to state that clandestine drug laboratories exist. (However, thermal surveillance may be used to locate chemical spills or dump sites which may indicate a drug lab. Not structure profiles as in the application for indoor cannabis grow sites.) N. “LETA” by formation does not endorse any specific company or corporation involved in the manufacture of thermal imagers. However, “LETA” does allow corporate and individual memberships of persons from the thermal imaging industry. Those individuals are encouraged to participate in LETA/DEA schools and to bring scientific developments to the attention of “LETA” to expand both applications and protocol. 0. “LETA” endorses and adopts current National Guard bureau policy regarding the use of thermal imagery by state National Guard personnel in support of law enforcement. (LETA reserves the right to amend these standards and protocols as required by science or changes in the law. submitted this 4th day of february 2002 by the Law Enforcement Thermographers’ Association Board of Directors.)

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