Police Intelligence Operations (PIO), is intelligence led, intelligence directed and intelligence driven policing. As one of five of the United States Army Military Police Corps primary functions, PIO encompasses the maneuver and mobility; internment resettlement; area security; and law and order functions of the Military Police (MP). Through an active and passive data gathering effort, information is collected pursuant to each of the MP functions mentioned. MP leaders are better able to provide commanders and decision makers at all levels with a clearer picture of the area of operations in regard to crime and its impact on current U.S. interests and military operations. The analysis of this collected police information provides an intelligence assessment and estimate for the targeted criminal groups, criminal activities and other interests contrary to U.S. interests and military operations. Access to current criminal intelligence (crimint) can significantly impact the success in achieving operational objectives. The Field Manual produced by the Army which details the PIO process, concept and operations is FM 3-19.50 Police Intelligence Operations.
A goal of PIO is the return or establishment of the foundations of the criminal justice system to area or locations absent such judicial influences or practices.
One area that PIO seeks to leverage is in the leveraging of human intelligence. Following the strategy of Every Soldier is a Sensor (ES2) PIO collects, gathers or collates raw data (information not yet analyzed) from the reports, actions and activities of soldiers in an area of operation. Routine operations including convoy travel, interaction with the local populace, as well as standard military operations provide a wealth of raw data which can be collated and analyzed.
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