The work ranged from gathering Scientologists' names to seeking refunds for dissatisfied parishioners. Police once stormed Scientology headquarters after hearing anonymous allegations - unfounded, it turned out - that Scientology children were being strapped to gurneys and given electric shocks.

A Clearwater detective in 1984 tried to persuade Pinellas prosecutors to aggressively pursue Scientology. He produced a massive report, never before revealed. In it, he alleged Scientology was a money-making scheme that sold its services through fraudulent claims about Scientology's founder, science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, and his research.

Five Scientologists visiting Clearwater for specialized counseling or training told police they were stranded after breaking with Scientology. They alleged Scientology was holding their money or had cashed in their promised round-trip airline tickets.