Urban Shield : A Preparedness Training For Prevention, Protection, And Prevention

Local law enforcement is the first-line of defense against terrorism and nefarious agents that wish to harm U.S. persons and interests. Based on the 9/11 Commission’s findings, Congress specifically created the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE)(DHS.GOV 2016). OSLLE has two, overarching responsibilities regarding homeland security. First, the organization leads and coordinates DHS policies aimed at “preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disaster” at the local, state, or territorial level(DHS.GOV 2016). Second, it is tasked with serving as a liaison between DHS and local and state law enforcement departments and agencies throughout the U.S(DHS.GOV 2016). Experts note that

First, there is lack of information and knowledge on the right police training philosophy, learning approach and training program objectives (CALEA, 2010). This lack of knowledge has immense negative effects on police training, especially because it affects not only senior commanders of police departments but also management, police trainers and other staffs. The other ingredient to police training that lacks is community understanding and support for police training programs (Mitrani, 2014). It is found out that the communities that are served by officers do little to support or appreciate post-academy training programs, which have numerous benefits to communities (CALEA, 2010). For instance, post-academy and field training for newly posted officers helps in the utilization of individual and department creativity, stakeholder collaboration, and effective problem-solving skills and techniques that would improve communal safety and

Local protective measure planning equips first responders with the knowledge needed to organize efficient response results in the event of an emergency. Structured open dialogue between local emergency jurisdictions enables responders to delegate the appropriate individuals and equipment resources to the impacted local areas requiring the most aid following a terror event. By establishing a streamlined communication framework, local emergency responders can collaborate their efforts and resources to promote collective well-being. When a local emergency plan specifies what responders and resources belong where and at what time, response overlap and shortages can be avoided. Unionized response action established prior to a terrorist incident, serves to mitigate the risks, hazards and threat of injury or harm the people and property of the US face when a terrorism event occurs. Furthermore, a structured local emergency operations plan for a hazardous materials incident involving a terrorist is imperative to public health and safety, as the blueprint outlines protective measures the public can follow to minimize their exposure to dangerous substances. The people of a community affected by a terror event can be warned and notified of the event’s associated dangerous materials, which threaten their well-being, through a variety of methods such as warning sirens or horns, emergency alert systems, automated

8). Therefore, although the attacks of 9/11 generated alterations in our national defense strategies, it additionally adjusted law enforcement policies immensely (Brooks, B. E., 2010, p. 113). It is now more common to have squads of police officers, such as SWAT teams, with specialized training in preventing future terrorist attacks. With exceptions to some officers at the local level, many of these specially trained teams are made up of state and national law enforcement. There are several local law enforcement agencies throughout America that do participate in anti-terrorism training, but on a larger scale many of these local departments lack the necessary training needed to prevent such threats. Therefore, local police departments, who lack special training, depend on the departments that are qualified to aid them. Likewise, the training these lower level law enforcement officers obtain varies greatly than that of state and national law enforcement. Despite the quantity of officers in local law enforcement departments, it is essential that each individual officer undergoes the preparations that are essential to be well equipped for reacting to a threat of terrorism. These preparations are crucial in that local law enforcement officers are often the first responders to these attacks, therefore they should be familiar

Teaching at a typical small town school in rural America one day, shots ring out. Active shooter drills come to mind, but what do we do, where do we go, how many students are present? Panic sets in. Thoughts of hiding, running, calling out for help and screaming all flash across the forefront of the mind when a person can be seen walking down the hall with a large gun in hand. No one ever thinks it could happen in a town, school, or church like ours but when the act is committed everyone feels the betrayal. Although schools from elementary to universities have adopted drills for active shooters and have routes with plans drawn up we never know how we will truly react until the time comes. Armed guards stand at the ready at most entryway doors but they are only one person and can not be everywhere always. In a recent study of active shooters for the Federal Bureau of Investigations, J.Pete Blair and Katherine W. Schweit have said, “The second most common incident locations were in educational environments…and the study results established that …these incidents involved some of the highest casualty numbers” (20). Crime is always a threat to education and defending our students nationwide should be a priority. The trouble begins with the fact that the school shootings are becoming more regular. Allowing teachers to be armed gives administration, faculty and students a more successful chance at survival against an active shooter in our education systems.

The militarization of the local law enforcement first escalated with the passing of the 1981 Military Cooperation Law Enforcement Act, which allowed for greater engagement between the military and the domestic police (Coyne, 2015). The terrorist attacks on 9/11/01 provided an opportunity for an expansion of the militarization of the police (Coyne, 2015). In 2002, the Department of Homeland Security was formed. The Department of Homeland Security provided even more funding for local police departments to buy military-grade equipment and training (Hall, & Coyne, 2013). The police started to use more military tactics and technology and this has lead to the lines being blurred between the police and the military. The idea behind the militarization of the police is preventing further terrorist attacks from happening on United States soil (Nacos, Bloch-Elkon, & Shapiro, 2007). Even though there are some benefits from using military technology and strategies in policing, the militarization of police is more harmful than beneficial.

The 9/11 attacks has changed how law enforcement response to terrorist attacks. Prior to 9/11 law enforcement were a bunch of entities that acted independently of each other. One of the major things that were affected during 9/11 was the communication and this hit to our communication infrastructure crippling how law enforcement, EMS and FDNY passed information. This attack changed how law enforcement responded to any terrorist attacks. After the terrorist attack law enforcement created a domestic counterterrorism unit to handle moments of disaster and terrorist attacks. These units worked in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies; the sharing of information is all funneled into one system called the Nationwide Suspicious Activity

Local law enforcement can facilitate information gathering among ethnic or religious community groups with whom police have established a relationship. It will generally be citizens who observe the unusual groups of men living in apartments or motels, or unusual behavior at flight schools in their own community, and could be expected to report such observations to the local police. Problem solving models typically used in community policing are well suited for preventing and responding to possible terrorist activity. Using existing data sources, agencies can conduct target vulnerability assessments and develop risk-management and crisis plans. Community policing is not in itself a tactic or strategy, but instead a philosophical approach to how policing is conducted. At its core, community-oriented policing is based on law enforcement and the community joining together to identify and address issues of crime and social disorder.

The disaster which hit the Maricopa County in the State of Arizona in September 2014 was a major disaster that necessitated the community preparedness for leading successful response and a prompt recovery. Besides emergency managers, many officials and the private are involved in the processes. Some of these stakeholders are public health, public safety, and municipal officials. Collaboration is needed for getting all those involved in the processes to interact accordingly. This paper addresses the major collaboration strengths between emergency responders, public health, public safety, and municipal officials to deliver accurate response and recovery during the event, the main weaknesses of the collaboration among all those that were involved in the efforts, and recommendations for improving the collaboration between the stakeholders.

We need to pay close attention to what terrorists are planning ahead of the closing of the New York's Laboratory and how terrorists are going to take advantage or benefit of this. We need to ask ourselves if the negative consequences or effects are going to be worth the close of the New York’s Laboratory. As a result, New York City has to be prepared for terrorists attacks and other attacks coming there way because of the closing of the laboratory. In addition investigators say these “attacks [occur] on a densely populated area [that] the potential for mass casualties”(Guardian). “In fact New York City is one of the most populous cities in the United States with a population of 8,537,673 people as of July 2016”(Current). This causes an illustration of how “critical infrastructure attack[s] affects security, [also] contributes economic loss[es], and presents public health and safety issues [like fear]”(Guardian). The population of New York City can be a reason of why it's a top targeted area for terrorists attacks to occur. If they can get the people to see these terrorists attacks they have accomplished their primary goal to create fear to the people. Terrorists threats that are made to the United States are persistently rising because they want are nation to lack confidence. The most common “targets for terrorists are government assets, critical infrastructure and densely populated areas” because

Does Community Policing allow the police to keep homeland security a priority? Different police chiefs believe differently on this. Chiefs with 4 year degrees from departments that use community policing at higher levels also believe that community policing can improve homeland security.Oliver(2006) Priorities diverted from community to homeland security which lead the federal government to fund homeland with 41 billion(2004) Congressional Budget Office, compared with community policing budget 400 million(Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2004). The funding was less than half for community policing than it was before 2001, which Violent Crime Control Act gave 8.8 billion for. Many believe that police get a lot of intelligence from the relationship they have with communities that could prevent a terrorist attack(Henry 2002). The investment in community policing could contribute to strong information for Homeland security to work with and be workable with each other(Murray 2005). Well others argue that community policing can work along with homeland security because they have different strategies and objectives (De Guzman 2002). Pelfrey(2005) believes adapting homeland security with community policing is best because it allows the community be involved and gain trust. International Association of Chiefs of Police deem necessary for the success of homeland security is to have community policing. 9-11 also brought positive reactions to community policing since many citizens support grew after the attack for the police and there presence in the community(Fridell, 2004).After 9-11 (Ortiz, Hendrick, Suggie(2007) showed that there was an increase in community policing efforts especially in Arab

The National Response Framework is a guide designed to assist local, State, and Federal governments in developing functional capabilities and identifying resources based on hazard identification and risk assessment. It outlines the operating structure and identifies key roles and responsibilities. It established a framework to identify capabilities based on resources and the current situation no matter the size or scale. It integrates organizational structures and standardizes how the Nation at all levels plans to react to incidents. The suspected terrorist attack will have health, economic, social, environment and political long-term effects for my community. This is why it is essential that local government’s

“local police departments must balance the competing challenges that urban counterterrorism initiatives raise from security, law enforcement, intelligence and civil liberties perspectives” (Silber, 2013, p. 150).

The Department of Homeland Security released the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review on June 18, 2014 as required by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and its amendments. This review outlined the current state of preparedness, as well as the future areas of concentration. It also determined six strategic challenges facing the nation: terrorist threat; growing cyber threats; biological concerns as a whole; nuclear terrorism; transnational criminal organizations; and natural hazards. The basic building block of emergency management in the U.S. is the local community. Each step begins here. Threat assessments are completed on the local level. Planning, mitigation, and response are all responsibilities of the local community to support the state and Federal practice using the guidance provided by both.

The Topsham community in Portland, Maine pertinent risks and hazards will be discussed. It 's current state of readiness is exceptional. The purpose of the Topsham community Hazard Mitigation Plan is to provide a comprehensive set of guidelines for hazard response and mitigation in the community. The plan identifies potential risks with appropriate mitigation responses to significantly reduce loss of life, injuries, economic costs, and destruction of natural and cultural resources. As the occurrences of the hazards identified in this plan are unpredictable, the plan itself will continue to evolve and be evaluated. With this, the mitigation strategies and maintenance process will be labeled as ongoing. The mitigation strategies and maintenance of the plan provide direction for the future of mitigation activities within the state and the process will continue until changed for any valid reason. The community has made progress on