Tennessee Private Investigator Licensing Practice Exam

Why is it important to have more than one person on a surveillance team?

1. To make the surveillance operation more legal

2. To share equipment and resources

3. To enhance coverage and confuse the subject

4. To reduce the workload of each team member

The correct answer is: To enhance coverage and confuse the subject

Having more than one person on a surveillance team is crucial primarily because it enhances coverage and confuses the subject. When multiple team members are involved, they can position themselves in various locations, allowing for a broader perspective and better observation of the target's actions and behaviors. This strategic positioning makes it more challenging for the subject to detect that they are under surveillance, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the operation. By spreading out, different angles and moments of the subject's movement can be captured, reducing the likelihood of the subject recognizing any one individual as conducting surveillance on them. This element of confusion can lead to more natural behavior from the subject, yielding more reliable information for the investigation. While sharing equipment and resources, reducing workload, and ensuring legality are all valid considerations in surveillance operations, the primary objective of employing multiple team members is to enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of the surveillance through improved coverage and operational stealth.