NCJ Number
221991
Journal
THE POLICE CHIEF Volume: 75 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2008 Pages: 20-23,25,33
Date Published
February 2008
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the findings of a homeland security survey of U.S. State and Canadian Provincial law enforcement agencies regarding their resources and capacities for addressing various threats to domestic security.
Abstract
The survey found that State and Provincial law enforcement agencies have operational flexibility and comprehensive responsibilities for public safety. Federal, State, Provincial, and local governments rely heavily upon State and Provincial police departments for an impressive array of services. The survey found that a significant number of State and Provincial law enforcement agencies have many specialized responsibilities related to a comprehensive homeland security effort. These include government security, infrastructure protection, commercial vehicle enforcement, and intelligence fusion centers. Further, these agencies are primary providers of a number of specialized police services, including aviation, hazardous materials monitoring, the policing of waterways, urban search and rescue, bomb squads, special weapons and tactics teams, and communications resources and structures of interagency operations. The survey was developed and coordinated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police State and Provincial Police Division. The survey instrument reflected the five phases of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The questionnaire was administered to law enforcement agencies through a secure Web portal. Commanding officers from 49 State police and highway patrol agencies in the United States and 2 law enforcement agencies in Canada were asked to participate in the Web-based survey.