"Be prepared for terrorists both foreign and domestic"
I retired from law enforcement June 2009 but I remain a volunteer firefighter. I try to stay informed of terrorism and other threats to this country and its public safety personnel. I also try to read what I can and take courses pertaining to this type of threat as often as I possibly can. Recently, intelligence sources have been reporting more "chatter" amongst terrorist organizations. At the time of my initial writings, governments in the western hemisphere were expecting a large terrorist event, possibly in Europe, but it could be anywhere.
This has led me to think about how either event could affect local police or fire departments. An event would not only affect the response, but may affect the agency as it pertains to apparatus, personnel, communications, stations or any combination of and mutual aid response. I would suspect that if there is an event or several events that most local public safety departments, even those with mutual aid agreements, would be severely overwhelmed. Those localities that rely on regional Hazardous Materials, Tactical Teams or other specialized teams may find that the agencies that support those teams may refuse to dispatch them outside of their primary jurisdiction. These teams may also become the target. "In this country, responding to terrorism is an experience limited to a very few emergency services departments" according to the book "Threat Based Response Patterns for Emergency Services: Developing Operational Plans, Policies, Leadership, and Procedures for a Terrorist Environment" by Robert Mahoney.
There are several locations or facilities that could become a target. These can range from malls, schools, fairs, amusement parks, interstates, government facilities, utilities such as gas lines, military bases or recruitment centers, etc. These locations do not have to fall within an agency's immediate jurisdiction to become a target and require their response. There are plenty of targets within metropolitan or rural area.
Most people, when they think of terrorism, think of foreign terrorists such as Al-Qaida but there could be a domestic terrorist threat as well. This could be as simple as someone who does not like the local or state government or even someone who believes that a tragic event may have been caused by the police or fire department. A terrorist event does not always have to be directed at the federal government. The terrorist wants to change the ways things are done and wants to create the biggest message that they can. They want casualties!
I was reading a document that discussed evidence seized from a captured terrorist. When this individual was neutralized it was learned that he had been gathering intelligence. This intelligence or information was to be used in the planning of a terrorist event in the United States. Both Mahoney and an MSNBC report on al-Qaida's pre-9/11 surveillance and planning, within their intelligence was video footage and information on local fire houses and police stations.
These details and other information was and is gathered so the actors or perpetrators can attack or disable the first responders. This would result in a second catastrophic event. Not only for those that are injured but for those that now have to rescue the rescuers and the injured that the initial response was to address. This increases the amount of personnel threefold as the initial rescuers now need to be rescued, tying up two sets of rescuers, and those initially needing assistance will still be in need.
This assault can be a secondary device or other event after the arrival of the first responders. It can also be a homicide bomber that walks into a station or and explosive device or weapons attack on the responding personnel or apparatus as it leaves the station. It can be anything that disables or prevents an immediate response. To emphasize, "Threat Based Response" book author Mahoney writes that "an array of attack weapons and methods are available to the terrorists for them to potentially use successfully against any asset."
We all know that a terrorist is someone who wants to change government. His intention is to create fear. A criminal is someone that commits a crime in an effort to benefit himself. He has no intent on changing government. The consequences of contact with either can be the same for a first responder.
First responders are trained to respond as safely and expeditiously as possible. Upon arrival, they try to immediately remedy the situation sometimes without completely surveying the scene or thinking about what led to the situation. This can be a deadly mistake!
During the aftermath of the deadly attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, at an Arizona shopping center, local law enforcement and fire and rescue responded. The attacker had been subdued by bystanders before the arrival of the first deputy. This deputy and others did not immediately allow fire and rescue personnel onto the scene until they were positive that there was not a second shooter. They were concerned about a secondary event!
Firefighters and EMS personnel are agents of the government and as such are not well liked by certain members of society. They wear uniforms and look like law enforcement officers at times, especially to an individual that is under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
Most states have created fusion centers. These are depositories for terrorist and criminal threat information. The personnel assigned are a wide variety to include local, state, and federal law enforcement. If it is not done, it may be wise to include personnel from local fire and rescue departments.
Inexpensive safety or security measures that could immediately be implemented can include putting a darkening shade on the windows of stations so outsiders are unable to look in and keeping all doors closed and secured. I would recommend window tinting of emergency vehicles such as police cars and fire apparatus. I also suggest requiring a second key to apparatus or vehicles that have a key operated ignition. That would allow the vehicles to remain running and be locked at the same time. Apparatus that has a keyless ignition, I would recommend that a device be placed on them so that they can not be placed in gear without activation of the device.
The recent attack at a Detroit police precinct where several officers were shot and the attacker was killed is an example of a criminal event that may have been avoided after a threat assessment had been conducted and certain procedures changed or "beefed" up. It appears as if the shooter entered a non secured lobby and had direct access to personnel. Many agencies, including the one that I retired from, allow this. A threat assessment should have recognized this and recommended changes that would address this type of threat as well as other threats. First responders can not protect civilians if they, themselves, are not secure in their surroundings!
Where specialized teams are regional, agencies may want to look at establishing a more advanced or equipped team of their own or at least improving training. It may be a good idea to place specialized teams at multiple locations through out the community to minimize a threat.
In closing, I would suggest that, on a regional basis, someone is placed in a fusion center and that there is a contact person with the Joint Terrorism Task Force or other task force if possible. If personnel are not invited then I would suggest a liaison of some sort so necessary information can be obtained. I would also suggest that some sort of tactical training involving all first responders ie: firefighters, police, emergency medical services, public utilities, etc., be taught. This should occur in settings less formal and outside of typical exercises. On a local level, I would recommend a threat assessment and risk analysis be conducted as it pertains to the agency.
Thomas Harrison retired in 2009 with 23 years experience at the Virginia State Police. He has experience in a variety of law enforcement disciplines training in national terrorism preparedness and counterterrorism.
