NCJ Number
224608
Journal
THE POLICE CHIEF Volume: 75 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 46,48,50,51
Date Published
October 2008
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes four key areas in which the Arlington County Police Department (Virginia) has worked with the U.S. Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) in using a consolidated terrorist watch list: training, empowerment, support, and feedback.
Abstract
Just over 5 years ago, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6 established a consolidated terrorist watch list, one list maintained by the Federal Government of all those known or suspected of terrorist activity, to be shared among all frontline screening agencies. In December 2003, the TSC began consolidating and maintaining the new list. The training information the TSC offers can easily be used and adapted by local law enforcement agencies. The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), for example, edited the TSC’s training slides into a briefing for its own internal training. The ACPD’s Homeland Security Section conducts regular, quarterly roll-call training for officers on how to handle possible watch-list matches (“hits”) they encounter when running information through the National Crime Information Center. Officers are also instructed in how to handle any updates with the program. The ACPD’s Homeland Security Section has also taken steps to empower patrol officers to become engaged in local homeland security efforts. Through normal briefings, patrol officers are encouraged to be alert for terrorist watch list-related encounters to be called into the TSC. In this regard, the TSC, directly and through fusion centers, provides information and training support on how to handle encounters with watch-listed subjects. The TSC Call Center operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week in assisting law enforcement agencies with possible encounters with suspected terrorists. The TSC provides interested State and local law enforcement agencies with as much information as possible about encounters with watch-listed subjects. The ACPD provides similar feedback to its personnel. 2 notes