U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

INNOVATIONS

www.cops.usdoj.gov

A Closer Look

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.
“We're the ones out in the street. We talk to

everyone in the community. We know what's

happening in every block in every city. People

need to reach out and get that information.”

– Ed Norris, Baltimore City Police Commissioner
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

1

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. 
2 COPS Innovations

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. 
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

3

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. 
4 COPS Innovations

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. 

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

Examples of law enforcement data:

• Calls for service

• Offense reports including modus

operandi information

• Arrests

• Property

• Field interview information

• Citations

• Accidents

• Traffic stops

• Domestic violence

• Hate crimes

• Citizen tips

• Confidential informant intelligence

Examples of non-law enforcement

data include:

• Financial/credit records

• Pawn information

• Census information 

• Student truancy data

• Tax and license information

• Home ownership information

• Public housing

• Drug court information

• Liquor licenses

• Tax and license registrations to

businesses

• Geographic data such as aerial

photographs, floor plans, 3-D

images of buildings, zoning

information, sewer/water system,

and parcel information.
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

5

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. 

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. 
6 COPS Innovations

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
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

7

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). 

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. 
8 COPS Innovations

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. 
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

9

"We're the ones out in the street. We talk to

everyone in the community. We know

what's happening in every block in every city.

People need to reach out and get that

information."

– Ed Norris, Baltimore City Police Commissioner, talks about the critical

role of local law enforcement and information sharing in terrorism

response and preparedness.1

1 Norris, Ed. Interview with NBC correspondent Bob McKeown. Dateline NBC. 8 Oct 2001
10 COPS Innovations

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. 
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

11

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.
12 COPS Innovations

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. 
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

13

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.
14 COPS Innovations

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%.
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

15

“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 usfrom 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.
16 COPS Innovations

! 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.
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

17

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

Sheriff’s 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 Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of

Information Technology at 954-321-5006.

5 Materials provided by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office to COPS.
18 COPS Innovations

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. 
19

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
20 COPS Innovations

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. 
Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism 

Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness

21

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. 
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

www.cops.usdoj.gov