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: CIA-RDP96-0(J788R000/00280Q08-4
Managing the Psychic
In Criminal Investigations
By
THOMAS J. GORDON
JERRY J. TOBIAS
I
'
The term "extra sensory per-
ception" possesses a certain fascination
and magical charm. To many,
it conjures
up
images
of
strange
and
mysterious
events. The thought of an individual pos-
sessing the ability to read thoughts, predict
the future, or reveal the past seems incred-
ible. Yet, the media reports these occur-
rences with considerable regularity, and
professionals arc showing increasing
in-
terest in this phenomenon,
1 listorically, the term came into general
use during the 1930s and suggests unusual
human
abilities which
are
scientifically
unexplainable. These are often referred to
as "psychic powers" and looked upon as
supernormal or paranormal, as they do not
adhere to the accepted principles of scien-
tific knowledge or exploration.
Psychic and Police Work
Perhaps at this time you are wondering:
"What does this have to do with police
work?” The answer is quite simple. With
increasing
frequency,
law
enforcement
officials
involved
in
investigations we
being
approached
by
individuals who
claim
to possess powers of extrasensory
perception and wish to offer their services.
However,
to the average police
officer,
often skeptical by nature and suspicious by
virtue of training, the psychic is placed in
the same category as one who reads tea
leaves or tarot cards and
is viewed with
little credibility.
The
fact
that police officers view the
services of a psychic with
less than en-
thusiasm should not be surprising since
police organizations are typically among
the most conservative of social institutions.
Officers arc train**'! to conduct investiga-
tions in an orderly fashion. They develop
and organize
leads, gather and maintain
evidence, interview witnesses and/or sus-
pects, and proceed in a methodical deduc-
tive manner. Consequently, the introduc-
tion of a paranormal investigative technique
not only raises the specter of the occult,
but is often perceived as damaging to the
credibility,
expertise,
and
professional
prerogatives of the police. In a sense,
it is
an embarrassment.
While
it is true psychic "investigators
have been consulted in a number of police
investigations, they are typically brought
in out of desperation on the part of the
authorities, and then only when the inquiry
appears
stalled and intense pressure
for
results
is being exerted by the media ar
community.
Needless to say, the use of parapsychc
ogical
investigative
techniques by
la
enforcement officers remains a controve
siai
issue.
However,
despite
these
co
cems.
individuals with bona fide psych
ability offer a unique and potentially val
able investigative
skill. Thus,
it is not
tl
intent of this article
to encourage or di
courage tlx: use of the psychic, but rather
nrovide some
ecneral
Guidelines
for
tl
management
of
psychic
investigate
should a decision be made to proceed in tf
direction.
Guidelines
The first and perhaps most important st
in managing psychic investigations
is
t
selection of the psychic(s) to be involved
the case. This process can be facilitated
contacting reputable institutions or orgar
zations involved in psychic research whi
may be able to provide a
list of prospe<
or identify individuals who have
tieme
strated a "track record” in other investif
tions or within a laboratory research settir
Proceeding in this fashion accomplices
least three objectives:
( I ) identification
THOMAS J. GORDON is currently employed in an administrative
capacity with the Oakland County Office ol Substance Abuse
Services and has served on a part-time basis with the Hazel Pah:
Police Department
tor over nine years. He holds the u_A.
in
psychology and M.A. in clinical psychology from Oakland Uni-
versity and is currently a doctoral candidate in educatonal/soc-
ial psychology at the University of Michigan.
JERRY J. TOBIAS. Ed.D.. P.O. Box 503. Bloomfield Hills, MicW-
oan 48013,
is a professor of education and human services at
the University of Detroit, and a youth officer for the Southfield
Township, Michigan. Police Department.
rpproved For Release 2000/08/07
: CIA-RDP96-00788R0001 00280008-4
THE POLICE CHIEF/MAY 1979
Approved For Release 2000/08/07
: CIA-RDP96-00788R0001 00280008-4
for* whom there
is some docu-
with any
substantial new
leads
officials
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were amazed that he confirmed information
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evidence of psychic ability, (2) in-
.,ng the chance of success in the inves-
on, and
(3) providing
further
legiti-
mation
for
the
decision
to explore para-
->rmal investigative techniques.
Next,
a scries of operational decisions
ust be made.
Although
situational
cir-
jmstanccs may require some alteration in
»c
following
recommendations,
each
Tould be carefully considered:
1. The decision
to engage
in psychic
vestigation should be
kept confidential
mil after the psychic has completed the
ttsk.
It
has
been
our
experience
that
-lainlaining the confidentiality of the oper-
(ion until its completion allows the psychic
D work unfettered by pressures and cxpcc-
ations external to the investigation.
It also
naintains the propriety of the investigative
-ffort and virtually eliminates the potential
ora "circus” atmosphere.
2. The selection of a team of officers to
work with the psychic is of central impor-
tance. The team should be composed of at
“east two or three officers who are
fairly
npen-minded
in regard to the existence of
psychic ability.
It must be remembered that
while most psychics expect some
skepti-
cism concerning
their
abilities,
hostile or
--ert skepticism may divert their attention
j
ultimutciy
ikcieav;
their
cUectivc-
ness. Consequently, the selection of mem-
bers may be crucial to the success of the
operation.
Likewise, the recommended use of more
than one officer has practical implications
since
it will normally allow sufficient man-
power for operational security and logistics
(e.g.,
travel
to the crime scene, securing
and transporting evidence for the psychic to
review, etc.), as well as provide additional
opinions, observations, and/or corrobora-
tion during debriefings, reviews, or brain-
storming sessions.
3,
Initially ,
officers assigned to work
with the psychic should have only general
familiarity with thefacts ofthe crime. Since
many bona
fide psychics appear to have
telepathic
ability,
this recommendation
is
not really as unusual as
it may first appear.
This is particularly important if one is seri-
ously interested in validating the legitimacy
of the psychic's findings as opposed to find-
ing out what
is already known. For exam-
ple, there have been several cases
in the
recent
past
where
well-known
psychics
have either been called in or have volun-
teered to assist the police. Unfortunately,
•
results of these consultations frequently
i .^ad
something
like
this,
“While
Mr.
Psychic was unable to provide authorities
previously known only to the police.
The
point
is
this, while the confirmation may
have
been
reached
independently,
it
is
likely the psychic unwittingly elicited the
information tclcpathically from the officers
around him.
4. All working sessions and interviews
with the psychic should be tape recorded.
These tapes should then be transcribed by a
typist
so
that
a
written
record
of
the
psychic’s
impressions,
statements,
feel-
ings, and concerns regarding the case can
be maintained for later review and analysis.
Needless to say, the use
of parapsychologieal
in-
vestigative techniques by
law enforcement officers
remains
a
controversial
issue ....
standardized set of questions that will pro-
vide uniformity to the investigation and will
allow a comparison of data if more than one
psychic is utilized. Questions (tasks) might
include: (I ) “Can you draw a composite of
your impressions of the perpetrator;
C2)
"Can you locate the residence of the sub-
ject;" and (3) “Would you prepare a profile
. of the subject which might include age, sex,
physical description, occupation, academic
background, etc."
7,
Consider the use of more than one
psychic.
This
will
enable
the
investiga-
tion to proceed
in a more scientific man-
ner. Composites can be compared
as can
the
responses
to
specific* questions
or
tasks, thus allowing for a more controlled
experiment.
8.
If the
investigation
involves
more
than one case, be aware ofpossible cross-
contamination ofpsychic impressions from
one case to another. When this occurs, the
psychic will have to be questioned in some
detail to determine what elicited the impres-
sion and specifically to which case he or she
believes the information relates.
Finally, two remaining
caveats.
First,
while
expectations
can
and
should
be
placed on the psychic investigator, undue
pressure to "perform” can have a negative
effect on the overall results and. secondly,
psychic accuracy may vary
considerably
and every impression may not be useful.
Consequently,
careful
analysis
of
the
psychic’s impressions vis-a-vis supporting
evidence
and/or
reasonable
supposition
must be made.
5.
Initially,
provide
the psychic
with
general but limited information on the case.
This will allow the psychic to develop im-
pressions without being unduly influenced
by more
specific
details. As progress
it
made, more information can be provided
and
verification of the psychic's impres-
sions with existing knowledge about the
case(s) can be given. However, an exces-
sive amount of time should not be spent
verifying
existing
knowledge
since
this
may detract from the primary objective of
eliciting new information.
If the informa-
tion the psychic "picks-up" appears rele-
vant,
provide
supportive
feedback
and
encouragement . This not only provides the
individual some idea of how he/shc is doing
but may strengthen the psychic s resolve
and help further focus his/her effort.
After the psychic has begun to provide
impressions on the case, increased contact
can be made with those officers most famil-
iar with
specific
details
of
the
case
for
purposes of verification of the psychic’s
impressions and
exploration of potential
Conclusion
Experience suggests only a small per-
centage of professionals consider the exis-
tence of psychic ability an established fact.
Conversely, few professionals rule it out as
an
impossibility,
while many
feel
it
is
simply unproven at present. Police, mean-
while, remain uncertain as to its fact-find-
ing potential.
Whether police agencies should explore
the
utility
of
extrasensory
investigative
techniques remains a moot point. Certainly
there
is controversy; but while fraud and
deceit
are
not unknown
qualities
in
the
realm of psychic phenomena, many
intri-
guing and scientifically unexplainable
re-
sults have been achieved under controlled
experimental conditions as well as spon-
taneous field situations.
As with any potential advance in techno-
locv or technique. ESP needs to be suffi-
ciently
field tested. Consequently, police
executives are encouraged not to tgnotf this
potential resource but rather place it among
their arsenal of investigative tools for fur-
ther experimentation and research. Petbaps
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