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Why Traditional Law Enforcement Methods Cannot Win the War on Terrorism

NCJ Number
197804
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2002 Pages: 27-31
Author(s)
W. Ronald Olin Ph.D.
Date Published
November 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses what must be done in order to prepare traditional law enforcement officers for the "war on terrorism."
Abstract
The Islamic Jihadists, represented in the Taliban and al Qaeda, have the ideology, money, personnel, and time to develop an international network, state connections, and potential if not actual access to weapons of mass destruction in their war against America. If traditional law enforcement agencies and personnel are to be effective in combating the terrorist network and its tactics, they must receive special training. The most important focus should be on prevention. This requires the strengthening of intelligence-gathering systems. The continued cooperation of local, State, and Federal partners and members of the international law enforcement community in the sharing of information and intelligence is a powerful tool in the fight against terrorism. Coordinated efforts in every phase of law enforcement are necessary to operate effectively against an elusive foe that operates across jurisdictions and national borders. Prevention is possible when combinations of intelligence gathering, investigations, and interventions come together to disrupt the terrorist networks wherever they exist. The educational component is critical. A comprehensive training program is underway to develop the curriculum for all U.S. officers. The State and Local Anti-terrorism Training (SLATT) program is working to create, test, refine, and deliver a basic presentation on terrorism for all 650,000 American law enforcement personnel. This new training -- combined with knowledge of the communities served, interactions with citizens, and networking with others such as postal workers, street crews, utility, and sanitation employees -- gives the local law enforcement officer access to important information. The education of citizens is also a key component in counterterrorist tactics. When citizens are informed about terrorist tactics and threats, they are prepared to cooperate with the police in providing intelligence information. 5 notes