U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

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Community Oriented Policing Services logo

INNOVATIONS 
A Closer Look 

Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 
Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness 

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Image of a policeman on his computer in his patrol car

Authors: 
Robert Chapman, Shelly Baker, Veh Bezdikian, Pam Cammarata, Debra Cohen, Ph.D., 
Nancy Leach, Amy Schapiro, Matthew Scheider, Ph.D., and Rita Varano, 
(Community Policing Development, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services) 
and Rachel Boba, Ph.D. (The Police Foundation, Washington D.C.) 2002. 
www.cops.usdoj.gov 


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Introduction 

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, in which terrorists attacked 
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and hijacked the plane that 
would ultimately crash in rural Pennsylvania, have added a new 
dimension to American policing. While it is true that the federal 
government is increasing its efforts in the area of terrorism prevention 
and response, a large degree of responsibility for responding to threats 
of terrorism rests at the local level. Experience now tells us that the 
first responders to any future incidents will most assuredly be local 
police, fire and rescue personnel. Therefore, law enforcement officials 
must now strategically rethink public security procedures and practices 
in order to maximize the full potential of their resources. 

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services (COPS) is publishing this issue of 
COPS Innovations to discuss the types of resources that police may 
want to consider when developing their own terrorism prevention and 
response plan. It also highlights the efforts of several COPS Office 
grantees who have utilized resources provided by COPS to strengthen 
their response to terrorism by: 

 improving data and intelligence collection and processing; 
 increasing the capacity to address terrorism by capitalizing on 
  technological advancements; 
 communicating with other public safety agencies; and 
 responding to citizen fear and preparing to assist potential 
  victims. 

Of course, these approaches are only one piece of the equation. A 
successful response to terrorism involves an array of activities, many of 
which are reliant on human intelligence gathering activities and 
productive partnerships between local law enforcement and other 
agencies. This general discussion about how the police can effectively 
prevent and respond to terrorism, along with specific examples of the 
advances agencies are currently making in practice and policy, are 
intended to assist police with conducting their own security needs 
assessment and implementing effective systems and procedures. 
Combined with other aspects of a successful security strategy, this can 
ultimately help bolster the existing security measures that are already 
present in communities across the country and facilitate other strategic 
improvements in intelligence gathering and sharing. 


Technology for Information Management 

To deal effectively with the threat of domestic terrorism, the police must 
be able to manage and coordinate different sources of data and 
intelligence, and then process them in such a way as to provide an 
enhanced understanding of actual or potential criminal activity. There 
are many tools to help manage data and intelligence, and in recent years 
technological advances have resulted in vast improvements in data 
gathering techniques. These technologies include in-field laptops, 
automated computer aided dispatch systems (CAD), enhanced records 
management systems (RMS), 311 systems, and geographical 
information systems (GIS). Collectively, these tools enhance the ability 
to collect and warehouse large amounts of data and thereby increase the 
potential for identifying threats, protecting or hardening potential 
targets from criminal activity, and improving the response to a critical 
incident. 

The Seattle Police Department Uses a Crime Analysis Workstation To 
Facilitate Emergency Assessment and Personnel Mobilization 

With the help of its 1997 COPS Advancing Community Policing 
grant, the Seattle Police Department enhanced its information 
technology capabilities, particularly in the area of crime analysis. 
COPS funds were used to procure a crime analysis workstation that 
included crime mapping software that, in addition to its uses for 
traditional crime analysis, can be utilized during an emergency 
mobilization to map out the addresses and locations of critical 
facilities and buildings. These include police and fire stations, 
hospitals, transportation facilities, government properties, historical 
sites, schools, communication facilities, high-density residential 
areas and commercial areas. Emergency mobilization maps are 
broken out by beat and sector, and are distributed to all officers in 
their patrol cars as well as to members of the Department's 
command staff. During major disasters, the Department can 
conduct an initial 15 minute assessment of all possible damaged 
areas of the city. The data can then be saved on the Seattle Police 
Department's shared drive for use in their emergency operations 
center. 


The Police Foundation Crime Mapping Laboratory Provides Information and 
Technical Assistance to Support Crime Analysis and Mapping 

The COPS Office has funded the Police Foundation's Crime 
Mapping Laboratory (Lab) since 1997. During this time the Lab 
has assisted law enforcement agencies in implementing crime 
analysis and mapping technology, and provided information on 
technology and analytical techniques through reports, training, and 
technical assistance. The Lab publishes a quarterly newsletter, 
Crime Mapping News, that covers timely topics and events 
concerning crime analysis, crime mapping, and problem solving. 
For example, their newsletter of Winter 2002 provides police with 
specific information about how crime analysts can contribute to 
preventing terrorism. It also shows how geographic information 
software has been used to assist in the recovery and analysis efforts 
in both the Oklahoma City and the 1993 World Trade Center 
incidents. 

The Police Foundation also conducts training sessions on crime 
analysis and mapping for police personnel to assist in developing 
their crime analysis capabilities. With COPS funding, they have 
published a number of crime analysis and mapping guidebooks 
including: 

 Introductory Guide to Crime Analysis and Mapping; 
 Crime Analysis and Mapping Product Templates; 
 Manual of Crime Analysis Map Production; 
 Guidelines to Implement and Evaluate Crime Analysis and 
  Mapping; 
 Crime Analysis and Mapping Information Clearinghouse; 
 User's Guide to Mapping Software For Police Agencies; 
 Geocoding in Law Enforcement Final Reports; and 
 Integrating Community Policing and Computer Mapping. 

For more information or to receive copies of Crime Mapping News 
or the Guidebook series, contact the Crime Mapping Laboratory at 
202-833-1460, visit their website at www.policefoundation.org, or 
send an email directly to: pfmaplab@policefoundation.org. 


Data Types to Assist in Examining Potential Terrorist Threats: 
Examining Traditional and Non-Traditional Data at Different Levels 
of Analysis 

Some police departments are finding value in combining law 
enforcement data with other types of data to examine crime problems in 
greater depth. These data are being used both in the aggregate, and 
more importantly, at the incident level. The importance of incident 
level data is that it can be analyzed by different levels of geography 
(address, beat, reporting district, city) as well as by other variables. 
Non-law enforcement types of data such as those listed below, are often 
available in incident level format and when combined with the more 
traditional law enforcement data, can allow for numerous analytical 
possibilities. 

Examples of law enforcement data:          Examples of non-law enforcement 
                                           data include: 
 Calls for service                         Financial/credit records 
 Offense reports including modus           Pawn information
  operandi information                      Census information
 Arrests                                   Student truancy data
 Property                                  Tax and license information 
 Field interview information               Home ownership information
 Citations                                 Public housing
 Accidents                                 Drug court information
 Traffic stops                             Liquor licenses
 Domestic violence                         Tax and license registrations to 
 Hate crimes                                businesses                                         Citizen tips                              Geographic data such as aerial 
                                             photographs, floor plans, 3-D 
                                             images of buildings, zoning 
                                             information, sewer/water system, 
                                             and parcel information. 
 Confidential informant intelligence 

For example, law enforcement agencies can obtain tax and license 
registrations of businesses such as nurseries, farm suppliers, etc. that 
may potentially store large quantities of ammonium nitrate that can be 
used for explosives. Law enforcement agencies can watch for activity 


such as commercial burglaries in these locations. Another illustration of 
the value of utilizing non-traditional data at the incident level is tracking 
the amount of flu medication sold in pharmacies, which could serve as 
an early indicator of a potential biological attack. These pharmacy 
locations could be mapped using the levels of purchases to determine 
hot spots of infections to assist with coordinating medical services and 
limiting the spread of potential infection beyond the hot spot.

Image of an area map of burglaries of ammonium nitrate in Beat 4A, January 1st through January 15, 2002

The Chicago Police Department Establishes Fully Integrated Data System 

Using COPS Office grant funding from a combination of programs, 
the Chicago Police Department has unveiled and deployed a 
web-based data management system called Community and Law 
Enforcement Analysis and Reporting (CLEAR). They established 
several priorities for CLEAR, which are achieved through enhanced 
data collection, management, and analysis. 


These priorities include improving police management functions, 
unifying strategies and facilitating cohesiveness with other criminal 
justice agencies, and enhancing community and business 
partnerships. The CLEAR technology contributes to operational 
readiness, intelligence gathering, and target hardening by providing 
access to real-time data from multiple sources, including emergency 
rooms, universities, public housing, motor vehicles, and other 
criminal justice system data. Over 700 million data elements will 
eventually be used in their crime and problem analyses. 

The capabilities of the CLEAR technology assist anti-terrorism 
functions in three ways. First, the technology facilitates intelligence 
gathering, which allows authorities to craft more comprehensive 
prevention strategies. Second, information across critical elements 
can be analyzed and manipulated in real-time, thus enhancing 
operational capabilities in the event of a terrorist incident. Finally, 
the CLEAR system supports defensive methods of hardening 
potential geographic targets, such as water treatment facilities, 
commercial and public monuments, bridges and tunnels, and other 
critical locations. 

The system was put to use after the terrorist attacks of 
September 11, 2001. Based on a prior threat assessment and the 
identification of 2,500 critical facilities within the city, the Chicago 
Police Department was able to immediately map and analyze the 
locations of these critical facilities, and then effectively deploy 
officers to these locations in the wake of the attacks. 
More than 700 million data elements will be accessible for analysis 


Data Sharing 

Data sharing refers to systematically linking large amounts of data from 
neighboring law enforcement jurisdictions and also from different levels 
of law enforcement (i.e., local, state and federal) and other institutions 
(e.g., schools, hospitals, other city departments, motor vehicle division). 

Image of a star being magnified
In the aftermath of the 
September 11th attacks, 
authorities uncovered patterns 
of suspicious activity 
occurring in places such as 
Maryland, Florida, and New 
Jersey. These activities 
included individuals paying 
cash for plane tickets, taking 
flight lessons, inquiring about 
crop duster planes, and 
frequenting drug stores. 
Taken individually, these 
incidents were not overly 
suspicious; nor were they seen 
as serious when reported to authorities. Yet, all together they illustrate at 
best highly suspicious behavior, and at worst a picture of a master plan 
of prospective criminal activity. When collecting data on terrorist 
potential, one isolated incident in a local jurisdiction may not have 
obvious significance, but the ability to view all incidents together across 
cities or states might paint a more complete picture. Agencies are now 
recognizing the benefits of data sharing across institutions and 
jurisdictions. 


The Baltimore City Police Department Establishes Command Control Center; 
Bases Emergency Deployment Decisions on Real-Time Information 

The same technology funded by COPS to advance community 
policing and prevent crime and disorder was further utilized by the 
Baltimore City Police Department to develop a comprehensive 
terrorism emergency response and preparedness plan. With an 
annual equipment budget of only $200,000, the department 
leveraged their municipal funds with four COPS grants over a three 
year period. COPS MORE 96 and COPS MORE 98 grants were 
used to fund their Command Control Center (CCC) equipment 
infrastructure and create a high-speed communication network. The 
department also used 1996 and 1999 COPS 311 Technology grants 
to fund the equipment necessary to develop the non-emergency 
public safety telephone system that later served as a rumor control 
mechanism. 

Within hours of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Baltimore 
City Police Department convened an emergency meeting of 
multiple city agencies at the CCC. Equipped with phones, 
computers, oversized projection screens and an attached computer 
lab complete with mapping software and data processing 
capabilities, the CCC enabled city agency representatives to develop 
a coordinated response strategy based on real-time mapping data. 
As information from multiple data sources (e.g., 911 and 311 call 
systems, public health, transportation) streamed into network 
servers, the maps automatically regenerated to reflect the new 
information. Agency representatives watched activity changes on 
highways, railways, and critical locations and made deployment 
decisions based on the latest intelligence information available, all 
without ever leaving the CCC. 911 and 311 call takers were quickly 
trained to handle the surge in incoming calls. As callers to 311 
inquired about road closings, the status of government buildings, or 
reported suspicious activity, call takers were able to dispel rumors, 
provide accurate and timely information on secured roads and 
buildings, and transfer tips to the Baltimore City Police 
Department's 1-888-TIP-LINE. 


Image of people looking at computer screens


Preventing and Responding to Terrorism 

Training 

With the additional responsibility placed on police agencies in the wake 
of the September 11th attacks, there is also the need to ensure that 
police personnel  including line personnel, executives and policy 
makers  receive the necessary training to make certain that they have 
the tools required to effectively respond. Key areas of need have 
recently surfaced, such as conducting threat assessments, identifying 
people who may be involved in terrorist activities, and technology and 
information management. However, the resources necessary to respond 
are rarely assembled or organized in such a way that facilitates meeting 
training needs. Nonetheless, there are training resources available for 
those agencies that have not yet developed in-house materials on the 
topic of terrorism prevention and preparedness. Established membership 
organizations and training entities can provide the information and 
training that is so important to this endeavor. 

The Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) at Wichita State 
University Develops Terrorism Response Curricula and Materials, and 
Delivers Training on Integrating Law Enforcement Intelligence and 
Community Policing 

In response to the evolving training needs presented by the attacks 
of September 11th, the Wichita State University RCPI which is 
funded by COPS, developed a training program entitled A Police 
Response to Terrorism in the Heartland: Integrating Law 
Enforcement Intelligence and Community Policing. Conducted in 
December 2001, the training program was established to address the 
issues of assessing possible terrorist targets, identifying those who 
might be involved in terrorist acts, and developing and sharing law 
enforcement intelligence of these issues. Additionally, the program 
focused on the role of community policing in this changing era of 
law enforcement, and the relationship of local law enforcement to 
the new anti-terrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act of 2001. 
The program employed instructors with extensive experience 
working with law enforcement, and expertise on law enforcement 
intelligence and terrorism issues. While the training has already 
been conducted, additional programs may be available in the future, 
and the WSU RCPI has made a collection of materials and 
resources available on their website at www.wsurcpi.org. 


Technology to Assist Interoperability and Information Sharing 

The recent terrorist attacks also reaffirmed the importance of 
communications interoperability  the compatibility of differing systems 
and the ability for effective information flow to occur  among law 
enforcement agencies and the constituencies they serve. Interoperability 
should be occurring locally among neighboring law enforcement 
agencies, regional task forces, across levels of government, with 
emergency services such as fire and rescue, and within the community 
itself. Local agencies also must be cognizant of their ability (or 
inability) to coordinate and share information with law enforcement and 
emergency services at the state and federal level when the situation 
warrants. 

"In the case of terrorism, local police can 
play a critical role in gathering information on 
suspects to help prevent further incidents. 
Many have vital knowledge about individuals 
living in their communities, in part because 
citizens often feel more comfortable 
talking with local officers. Local departments 
thus are often in receipt of invaluable 
information about the communities they protect 
 
exactly the type of data federal law 
enforcement agencies are trying to gather now." 
 
Edward Flynn, Chief of Police, Arlington County Police Department2 
2 Flynn, Edward. Letter. Washington Post 14 October 2001. 




We now know the importance of coordination between the police, fire, 
EMS and other emergency services during times of crisis. In recent 
years, a few agencies have begun coordinating their CAD and RMS 
systems across police and fire departments. In San Francisco, 
California, for example, the city established a new regional dispatch 
center that is shared by the city's fire, EMS, and police agencies. 
However, the majority of jurisdictions continue to rely on individualized 
and/or proprietary systems that make interaction and information 
sharing ineffective or inefficient. When conducting strategic planning 
and technology acquisition, law enforcement agencies should consider 
the need for and potential outcomes of systems interoperability, which is 
a critical element of effective terrorism planning and response. 

Delivering Timely Information to the Community 

Technology can assist local law enforcement in dealing with terrorist 
threats by delivering timely and consistent information to the 
community. Community coordination is important not only during the 
immediate emergency, but also during follow-up periods to provide 
citizens with important information, to execute evacuation plans, and to 
help with collecting tips concerning potential or actual crimes. Some 
law enforcement agencies have begun experimenting with neighborhood 
notification systems, often referred to as reverse-911, as a means to 
getting important announcements out to the public. Alternative call 
management strategies and technologies such as 311 systems can be 
utilized to efficiently address the deluge of calls that are inevitable 
during times of emergency. 


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The Rochester City Police Department Uses 311 to Disseminate Emergency 
Information and Dispel Rumors 

Partially funded by a 1999 COPS Technology grant, Rochester City 
Police Department originally viewed their new 311 system as a way 
for police to respond more effectively to non-emergency calls for 
service and free up officer time to respond to true emergencies and 
enhance community policing. Less than a year after its first day in 
operation, however, Rochester City Police Department further 
expanded the use of 311, using it to disseminate information about 
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Citizens used the 311 
system to report suspicious materials or activity and called 311 to 
inquire about the safety of particular locations. Call takers helped 
alleviate public fear by dispelling unfounded rumors. 

The 311 system has provided an avenue for citizens to connect with 
local law enforcement, provide tips to police, and obtain accurate 
information regarding ongoing events. Rochester's 311 call takers 
are sworn officers and Public Safety Aides (funded under COPS 
MORE 98) and as such, were able to route leads in the most 
effective manner during the period following the September 11th 
attacks. Calls to 311 resulted in some tips being sent to the New 
York State Police and the FBI. 


The Austin Police Department's 311 System Helps Police Manage Increased 
Call Load in Aftermath of 9/11 

The launching of the City of Austin Police Department's 311 system 
on September 17, 2001 coincided with the period following the 
attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), the Pentagon, and the 
Pennsylvania plane crash. It also preceded the early stages of the 
anthrax scare. During the height of the attack coverage, the Austin 
Police Department coordinated efforts with the local media to 
educate the public about the new 311 system. As a result, calls 
poured into the 311 system throughout the two crisis periods. By the 
end of October, the 311 system had actually processed more calls 
than the 911 system.3 The types of 311 callers ranged from people 
being nervous about finding detergent (white powder) in the bottom 
of washing machines to those wanting more information about the 
current emergency situation. 

All incoming 311 call information is entered into a CAD/RMS 
system. This system then generates information that is provided to 
the Intelligence Section. There it is reviewed to determine whether 
or not a follow-up call is needed. As part of the technological 
infrastructure funded under the COPS 311 Technical Assistance for 
Start-Ups package, the 311 statistical reporting software allowed the 
Chief of Police and the City Manager to receive a daily email of 
every weapons of mass destruction call generated through the 311 
software. The software also helped generate a daily bulletin of calls 
requiring a response, which was provided to all city staff and 
personnel. 

3 In fact between September 17 and November 30, calls to Austin Police Department 911 had dropped by 24%. 


We had no idea that we would need another 
form of telephony to not only receive 
information, but to transfer information. The 
September 11 attacks completely overwhelmed 
our 911 center. 311 saved us from not only 
having our 911 center swamped, but 
saved our citizens who had true 
emergencies, such as heart attacks and crimes 
in progress, from getting a busy signal. 
311 has been a miracle." 
 Ed Harris, Director of Emergency Communications, Austin Police 
Department4 

Crisis Management Planning 

Acts of terrorism and other crises happen without warning. Cities must 
respond quickly with coordinated efforts from many diverse agencies. 
However, integrated crisis management plans can greatly improve their 
emergency planning and response, with computer and geographic 
information systems (GIS) playing important roles in the development 
and implementation of these plans. 

Examples of how integrated computer systems and GIS can assist in 
planning for terrorist attacks and other possible disasters include: 

 computer simulations and data mining techniques can be used 
  to predict risks and decrease loss of life and property caused by 
  terrorist attacks; 
 target inventories can be developed and specific incident
  response scenarios can be rehearsed and included in crisis 
  management plans;
 potential citizen evacuation routes can also be mapped in 
  advance and then distributed to citizens in preparation for any 
  emergency requiring evacuation; and 
4 Harris, Ed. Telephone interview. 14 December 2001. 


 neighborhood notification systems and crisis management plans 
  can include the automatic alerting of residents in the path of 
  disasters and direct them to the best evacuation routes tailored 
  to their particular location. 

Comprehensive crisis management plans can also include the 
development of command and control centers using integrated computer 
systems. Operational command and control centers that use crisis 
management plans, integrated computer systems, and GIS are useful 
because 

 they identify available resources; 
 ensure the existence of effective and coordinated mechanisms 
  that continuously assess and disseminate risk and threat 
  information; and 
 provide a forum for the general coordination and exchange of 
  information among federal, state and local entities. 

Integrated computer systems including GIS also enhance the ability of a 
diverse set of agencies to respond in a coordinated way to terrorist acts. 
Crises frequently necessitate the rapid analysis of large amounts of data 
for a specific geographic area to develop effective responses. GIS has 
the ability to reference many different types of data by their geography 
quickly, simultaneously, and in an easily understandable format. The 
ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and use it to determine 
the most effective emergency responses can save lives, prevent panic, 
and help determine who or what is responsible for the crisis. Maps can 
be created that overlay a large amount of data useful in a crisis. Data 
commonly overlayed into mapping software with three-dimensional 
imaging capabilities include: power and subway lines, sewers, roads, 
waterways, and building locations including schools and office centers. 
Maps can be provided which include aerial photographs and floor plans, 
which for a location under attack can be invaluable to the responding 
officers and to decision-makers, who can develop and tailor responses 
with a more complete understanding of the situation and surroundings. 

Technology also improves communication among the myriad of state, 
local and federal agencies that respond to disasters and can integrate 
communication among the different units on the scene. Police 
departments often take the lead role in these responses and technology 
can greatly enhance crisis management across disparate sets of agencies. 
COPS has provided funding for information technology that many law 
enforcement agencies have effectively incorporated into their crisis 
management plans. 


The Broward County Sheriff's Office Uses Information Technology to 
Implement First Responder Plans 

With funding provided through the COPS MORE 98 Program, the 
Broward County Sheriff's Office in Florida is prepared to share 
essential information in a time of emergency with other first 
responders and jurisdictions. The COPS-funded in-car mobile data 
computers and county-wide CAD system, in conjunction with the 
existing infrastructure, provides swift communication and 
coordination among first responders and aids in implementing 
critical incident plans. One such plan is Operation Safe Schools, a 
software package that is provided to all first responders on a CDROM. The software allows for the quick retrieval of floor plans, 
interior photographs, contact names and phone numbers, and 
evacuation routes for 61 schools patrolled by Sheriff's Office, 
information which is critical in the event of an emergency. 

"Within less than a minute the responder can 
acquire a substantial amount of 
information on the facility that will decrease the 
response time and set immediate actions 
in place, thereby preventing unnecessary delays 
and increasing the safety of the responders." 
 John Murphy, Law Enforcement Systems Manager, Broward County 
Sheriffs Department.5 

This program will eventually grow to provide information on all 
government buildings, hospitals, and airport and seaport facilities. 
Anyone interested in learning more about Operation Safe Schools 
can contact the Broward County Sheriffs Office, Bureau of 
Information Technology at 954-321-5006. 

5 Materials provided by the Broward County Sheriffs Office to COPS. 


Responding to Victims and Reducing Citizen Fear 

As tensions rise after the September 11th tragedy and the response 
against the perpetrators intensifies, law enforcement agencies are 
finding themselves facing an increasing number of hate crimes and 
illegal bigotry targeting people of Middle Eastern descent and those of 
the Muslim faith. Police agencies are encouraged to develop innovative 
approaches to community mobilization, including strategies such as 
community mediation and restorative justice to help engage the 
community in a positive manner and channel citizens' desire to get 
involved. 

Additionally, although the vast majority of communities will not be 
directly impacted by a terrorist event, the threat of a potential terrorist 
attack can create citizen fear and undermine the feeling of community 
safety and cohesion. The incidents of bio-terrorism have only 
exacerbated community fears. It is therefore critical for the police to 
play a leadership role in restoring and maintaining community 
confidence. This can be done through sustaining visibility, actively 
responding to specific community questions and directing people to the 
appropriate community services to keep the level of fear and uncertainty 
to a minimum. 


National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) Victim-Oriented Outreach 
Programs Utilizes Information Resources to Help Law Enforcement Reach 
Victims 

Since 2000, COPS has 
funded the National Center 
for Victims of Crime to assist 
crime victims by 
implementing a 
1-800-FYI-CALL help line. 
Victims of crime can receive 
information about civil 
justice, safety planning, 
victim compensation referrals 
for counseling, court accompaniament, shelters, support groups, and 
other services. To help bring these resources to victims, the National 
Center works with television networks like MTV and Lifetime 
Television and disseminates outreach cards and brochures 
advertising the 1-800-FYI-CALL help line. 
Immediately following the events of September 11th, the National 
Center distributed more than 500,000 trauma information cards, 
which included tips on identifying signs of trauma, practical 
suggestions for coping with trauma, and resources for additional 
support. They also created materials to help service providers and 
law enforcement equip their staff and volunteers to respond to 
victims on related subjects including hate crimes, coping with the 
holidays, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), PTSD in 
children, and other subjects. The National Center encourages first 
responders to let victims know they have a place to turn for help. 
Last year, law enforcement officers distributed more than 400,000 
palm cards encouraging victims to call the 1-800-FYI-CALL to get 
immediate assistance. Cards are free and can be previewed and 
ordered at the National Center's website, www.ncvc.org, or call 
202-467-8700 to learn more about additional victims services. 
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 
Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness 


Conclusion 

The vast majority of communities will never directly experience a 
terrorist event. However, it is critical that public safety officials work to 
prevent the possibility of such an event taking place, as well as plan 
should such an unlikely event occur. This COPS Innovations 
document introduces some of the options that police leaders might want 
to consider when approaching their own anti-terrorism strategy. There 
is no single best method, as evident from the unique approaches that 
these COPS-funded agencies used in developing their own strategies. 
However, the COPS Office hopes that these examples  which are just a 
few of many notable examples across the country  will assist agencies 
with assessing their community's needs and in crafting an approach that 
is tailored to the distinctive characteristics and requirements that exist 
within each individual jurisdiction. 


Bibliography and Resources 

Web Sites 

http://www.cops.usdoj.gov (USDOJ, COPS Office)
http://policefoundation.org (Police Foundation)
http://www.wsurcpi.org (Wichita State University Regional Community
Policing Institute) 
http://ncvc.org (National Center for Victims of Crime)
http://www.fbi.gov (USDOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation)
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc (USDOJ, Office for Victims of Crime)
http://www.atf.treas.gov (USDOT, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms)
http://www.fema.gov (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
http://www.ndpo.gov (National Domestic Preparedness Office)
http://www.llnl.gov/str/Imbro.html (Weapons of Mass Destruction)
http://www.firstgov.gov/featured/usgresponse.html (Provides links by
topic to US Government Information and Resources)
http://osldps.ncjrs.org (Domestic preparedness support information
clearinghouse)


Publications 

Leading from the Front: Law Enforcement's Role in Combating and 
Preparing for Domestic Terrorism. International Association of Chiefs 
of Police, 2001. 

Local Officials Guide to Domestic Terrorism: Resources for Local 
Governments. National League of Cities, 2001. 

Project Response: Preparing Law Enforcement for Y2K. International 
Association of Chiefs of Police, 1999. 

Responding to Terrorism Victims: Oklahoma City and Beyond. Office 
for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000. 

Terrorism Resources: Anti-Terrorism and Disaster Response Programs 
Exist For Law Enforcement. Police Executive Research Forum, 2002. 


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FOR MORE INFORMATION 

U.S. 
Department of Justice 
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 
1100 Vermont Avenue, NW 
Washington D.C. 20530 

To obtain details on COPS programs, call the U.S. 
Department of Justice Response Center at 1.800.421.6770 
Visit the COPS internet address listed below. 


updated April 5, 2002 e02021441