...security. Of course, the reality of day-to-day policing remains: all of the normal demands still exist, causing law enforcement agencies to do more with their limited resources. Because the impact of a terrorist-driven weapon of mass destruction (WMD) event can be so significant, every effort must be made to prevent such an occurrence. Initiatives that support deterrence and prevention of terrorist activity represent another layer that law enforcement agencies must incorporate into their departmental programming.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The law enforcement community has developed a response capability for major emergencies. In addition, it has encouraged communities to assess targets, risks, and vulnerabilities and to develop a plan to mitigate catastrophic events. If an incident occurs, those in the law enforcement profession must respond with all they have to protect the public. But, a major catastrophe caused by the criminal use of a WMD may well prove beyond the capability of any police agency to handle without the assistance of many law enforcement organizations, public safety departments, other government services, and the private sector.

While the primary purpose of policing is to preserve life and protect property, agencies usually deal with one victim, residence, vehicle, commercial establishment, or limited incident at any one time. In a WMD event, however, they may face thousands of dead and injured victims, blocks of destroyed structures, and social consequences beyond any preconceived reality. Law enforcement executives must anticipate and plan for the meaningful utilization of available personnel and resources prior to the event to ensure an effective response to the demands that may befall their organizations. (2)

ASSESSMENT

The first contact with a major event may take place through the 911 operator. Following an inundation of calls reporting the incident, a dispatch of emergency response assets, including patrol officers from the department, will occur. Warnings of potential contamination and secondary devices, along with the need for...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



More articles from The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
The deadly dilemma: shoot or don't shoot?(Perspective), March 01, 2008
Screwball.(Unusual Weapon)(Brief article), March 01, 2008
Is charisma the key to effective leadership?(Leadership Spotlight), March 01, 2008
HIV in prisons.(Bulletin Reports)(Brief article), March 01, 2008
Corrections.(Brief article), March 01, 2008

Looking for additional articles?
Search our database of over 3 million articles.

Looking for more in-depth information on this industry?
Search our complete database of Industry & Market reports by text, subject, publication name or publication date.

About Goliath
Whether you're looking for sales prospects, competitive information, company analysis or best practices in managing your organization, Goliath can help you meet your business needs.

Our extensive business information databases empower business professionals with both the breadth and depth of credible, authoritative information they need to support their business goals. Whether it be strategic planning, sales prospecting, company research or defining management best practices - Goliath is your leading source for accurate information.