NCJ Number
213247
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 73 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 72-77
Date Published
February 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In noting changes that have occurred in all police departments due to a heightened awareness of the potential for terrorist attacks since September 11, this article addresses changes in municipal infrastructure; business, schools, and manufacturing; patrol strategies; training; interoperability and sharing; and information overload.
Abstract
Regarding municipal infrastructure, soon after the September 11 attacks, all jurisdictions were required to complete a detailed assessment of their critical infrastructure (utilities, power plants, bridges, water supplies, etc.). Following such assessments, law enforcement agencies were expected to address the safety and security needs of the infrastructure in their operational plans. In addition, the security and emergency procedures associated with schools, businesses, and manufacturing plants received increased attention as potential terrorist targets. In the area of patrol strategies under the community policing paradigm, beat officers have become more aware of and alert to possible terrorist targets and signs of terrorist planning in the communities they serve. Recognizing that terrorists tend to plan attacks that bring massive casualties, local police agencies have also given increasing attention to interagency sharing and cooperation in preparing for operations that require an expanded deployment of multiple resources. This in turn requires structures of cooperation and communication as well as joint training for police, fire, and emergency medical services. The new frame of reference that the September 11 attacks have brought to public safety preparedness has also resulted in information overload, as multiple Federal, State, and local agencies are overwhelmed with new information on emergency preparedness. The management of such information is in itself a challenge for local law enforcement agencies.