NCJ Number
191220
Date Published
2001
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This document is a primer for police administrators to evaluate their response to critical incidents, such as terrorism.
Abstract
The first lesson in developing terrorism prevention and response plans is to recognize that the disbelief terrorism will strike home is a normal, human reaction to unthinkable acts. Planning and prevention policies, intelligence and information gathering, general disaster preparedness and response tragedies will not effectively occur until acceptance of this tragic reality occurs and there is a willingness to devote primary resources to deal with these problems. While the police are always a part of the response, they are not always in charge of the response. Regardless of who fills the role, it is incumbent that clean policy designates who is responsible and a definitive hierarchy of responsibility is articulated. Disaster preparedness is the development of plans and the designation of resources that seek to prevent a critical incident from occurring and minimize the effects of a critical incident. Some of the fundamental elements that go into the planning process are an alert readiness plan for all agencies and a designated command post. Appropriate training includes ensuring there is appropriate expertise to handle the crisis and ensuring that all potential responders understand the plan and their roles. A balance needs to be struck between the public's right to know and the need to maintain secrecy in order to further an investigation. Special law enforcement responsibilities during critical incidents include maintaining the integrity of the crime scene, prevention of criminal profiteers, and maintenance of public order. Three fundamental types of law enforcement intelligence are tactical (gathering information for a successful prosecution), operational (watching criminals' associates), and strategic (focusing on specific crimes). The document provides a list of agencies that can offer further resources, such as the National Disaster Preparedness Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.