As part of the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City in April, 1995, researchers and law enforcement officials have come to recognize the need for effective coordinated efforts in the fight against terrorism. Major situations such as a terrorist attack that require the needed services of various emergency agencies and other support services must have a well-coordinated crisis response system. Knowing what resources are needed during a crisis helps allow for better coordination and execution of such services when needed. Note: A crisis response plan typically is a multi-agency written plan to coordinate the response of the multitude of agencies expected at big events. Such agencies may include law enforcement, fire departments, federal agencies, hospitals, and so on.
Assignment Guidelines
In 5–6 paragraphs, address the following:
Explain the role of local law enforcement (LE) in combating terrorism.
What unique advantage(s) might local LE have to help in counter-terrorism efforts?
How might local LE agencies utilize the strategies of community-oriented policing to help safeguard communities against terrorism?
Are there outcomes of local LE efforts in counter-terrorism that could hamper community relations? If so, how?
What role can local LE agencies play in helping support federal LE in efforts to combat terrorism?