NCJ Number
215638
Date Published
2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This chapter on the role of law enforcement personnel who are the first responders in an event that involves weapons of mass destruction (WMD) focuses on the threats, the location, personnel readiness and awareness, and the response.
Abstract
WMD can be categorized as conventional weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) and specialized weapons of mass destruction (SWMD). CWMD include explosives, bullets, and fire. SWMD include nuclear, biological, and chemical agents. The response to an event that involve CWMD is generally no different that any other catastrophic event; however, there is the possibility of secondary attacks such as successive explosions or booby traps, which require extraordinary security measures at the site. The response to an event that involves SWMD will be different and dependent on the possible cause of the events. Signs of the effects of various nuclear or toxic agents must be familiar to first responders, who can then act accordingly to counter and reduce these effects, particularly when they involve dispersion of toxic agents over time. This chapter describes the features of nerve agents, blister agents, blood agents, choking agents, biological agents, and nuclear agents. The location of a terrorist event that involves WMD is likely to be carefully planned for maximum psychological and physical impact. Often, it may not be apparent that an event with mass casualties has been planned and executed by terrorists, unless there is an early claim by the perpetrators or the event is highly unusual, as was the case on September 11. A heightened index of suspicion based on the type of call, location, intelligence, and history will assist the first responder in determining the probability that a given event with multiple causalities is a terrorist attack. A 10-item bibliography