Vigilence Stressed at Weapons of Mass Destruction Meeting
The development of the law enforcement community to support
the interdiction of weapons of mass destruction was the focus
of a one week conference at the College of Criminal Justice
at Sam Houston State University Nov. 30-Dec. 3.
Sponsored by the Houston Police Department and the United
States Intelligence Community, the program drew more than
200 police, fire, emergency medical, and National Guard personnel.
Kathleen Kiernan, a 29-year veteran of federal law enforcement
and an active participant in the Intelligence Community for
over 10 years, served as conference chair. She is currently
leading a nationwide Intelligence Community project involving
the active interdiction of weapons of mass destruction throughout
the law enforcement and public safety communities.
“The genesis for the collaboration project is the recognition
that the challenge posed by terrorism can no longer be framed
as the sole responsibility of the national level but must
include the voice of the practitioners from across the first
responding community," she said.
"This voice, by necessity, includes the public safety
arena, police, fire, emergency and medical personnel, as well
as members of the private sector,” she explained.
According to Kiernan, law enforcement historically has been
in a reactive posture relative to criminal acts, convergence
of events, or natural disasters which requires a proficiency
in consequence management, disaster mitigation, and recovery
efforts. The focus of this effort acknowledges the ongoing
shift of public service agencies from a strictly reactive
posture to one that is proactive, predictive, and preventative,
she added.
Kiernan discussed at length the relationship between criminals
and terrorists.
“Understand that while every criminal is not a terrorist,
every terrorist is a criminal,” she said. "While
motivations are often different, they exploit the same methods
of deception and manipulation, recruitment, fund raising,
and fraud."
Thus, Kiernan noted, it makes good sense to incorporate the
historical expertise of law enforcement personnel who are
uniquely positioned to notice change or aberrant behavior,
potential indications of criminal and/or terrorist activity.
"In fact, one of the key precepts of community oriented
policing has been the development of trust and credibility
for law enforcement within individual neighborhoods which
involves an active citizenry who are really the 'first' first
responders," she said.
"Oftentimes terrorists will hide in plain sight by integrating
themselves within communities in an attempt to disguise their
intentions," said Kiernan. “Homeland security begins
with community awareness and citizen responsibility.”
Harold Hurtt, chief of the Houston Police Department, recognized
that a homeland security strategy must include the entire
public safety community as well as the private sector.
"The threat posed by weapons of mass destruction on domestic
soil reveals the need for increased collaboration and information
sharing between law enforcement and the intelligence community
across the nation," Hurtt said. "A shared awareness
of all of our intelligence requirements will engender an increased
vigilance for obtaining the information by all levels of government."
David Webb, assistant director of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement
Management Institute of Texas which is housed at Sam Houston
State University, discussed the Incident Command and Simulation
Training Project that is currently being developed at LEMIT.
It will be coordinated into six types of programs that may
be structured into one united program of preparedness for,
response to, and recovery from major emergencies, disasters,
and potential terrorist threats and activities.
Stanley Weiner, professor of medicine at the University of
Illinois presented a physical defense plan against bioterrorism
for civilian populations. He explained how conversion of rooms
would prevent bio-weapon casualties.
"A sealed 'safe' room has its own emergency system that
blocks particles and purifies the air from toxins," he
said. During a bio-weapons attack, “medical defense
won’t work but generic defense will work,” Weiner
said.
Other speakers represented the Terrorist Screening Center,
the Homeland Security Operations Center, various agencies
that are members of the U. S. Intelligence Community, private
security, members of the Civil Support Team of the National
Guard, and the medical community.
“The venue of Sam Houston State University provided
a unique opportunity based on its strong focus to educate
practitioners, develop leaders, and enhance the skills of
current and existing leaders," said Richard H. Ward,
dean and director of the Sam Houston State Criminal Justice
Center.
"This conference provided investigators with new tools
to put into practical use against terrorism and added depth
to investigative capabilities,” he said.
-END-
Media Contact: Julia
May
December 7, 2004
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