Jailhouse Bugs

Posted on 12th Jan 2012 @ 9:52 AM

In Land O’ Lakes, Florida, a Pasco detention deputy spent his typical morning at the jail house where he works. But on that day, the deputy spent his time behind bars instead of guarding them. According to the investigation, Detention Deputy Kyle A. Bruce, a 25 year old officer with over five years of experience in the Paso County Sherriff’s Office, was given the task of taking an inmate to a cell with a bugging device installed into it on November 29, 2011. Investigators wanted the inmate in the bugged cell so that they could monitor his conversations with other inmates and try to recover more incriminating evidence in the pending court case.

Bruce is accused of informing the inmate about the bugging device, telling him not to say anything that could potentially incriminate him during his stay in the new cell. Bruce, of Tampa, has been charged with the disclosure of confidential criminal investigative information.  According to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kevin Doll, Kyle A. Bruce has resigned from his position on the force.

"Every member of the Pasco Sheriff's Office holds the words professionalism and integrity as the backbone of the trust the citizens have in our service to them," Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said in a written statement to the Times. "We will hold ourselves accountable to ensure the public never loses their trust in us."

Bruce was released on $5,000 bail. He "admitted he knew the room was monitored and informed the inmate," a report states.

The punishment for the disclosure of confidential information pertaining to a case is the payment of a fine up to $5,000, or up to five years in prison, or both. At this moment, there is still no reason as to why Kyle A. Bruce gave away such vital information. Who knows what evidence could have been captured if the inmate had spilled the beans to a cell mate without knowing the cell was bugged?

This case is an example of how the police forces all across the United States are using new and innovative ways to capture criminal activity. We are all familiar with undercover investigators who wear wires or microphones underneath their clothing to record their conversations with criminals. Well now, the technology is available where these same undercover investigators are now wearing body worn cameras and using other cool gadgets to investigate their cases.

A bugging device is an excellent way to get information secretly and covertly. If you suspect someone is stealing from you in your home or office, for example, you can easily implement a hidden camera that can monitor all of the activity for you when you are not around. Or, if you want to hear and record what someone is saying when you are not around, a hidden microphone and digital audio recorder can easily get the job done. See where someone is going with your car every night using a small GPS device. For covert monitoring, you have plenty of different options and styles from which to choose; start shopping and level the playing field today.