Terrorism - The New Policing Challenge,
Why Can't Lawyers Relax? - And How They Can,
Terrorism - The New Policing ChallengeOn September 11, 2011, we, as a country commemorated the ten-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks by extremists that killed thousands of innocent people, most U.S. A philosophical shift is also required within local first responder agencies. Given the vitality and vulnerability of Norfolk due to the aforementioned navy installations, colleges and bridge tunnels coupled with one of the country's largest shipping container ports and a cruise ship terminal, and based on intelligence threat information conveyed by the Norfolk FBI through its Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and analysis provided by the VFC, I decided to reorganize the NPD to meet these pressing and foreboding challenges. Under my leadership the NPD became the first Virginia police department to create a fully dedicated Homeland Security Division (HSD). Responsibilities of the NPD HSD included ensuring that the department and City of Norfolk became National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant. Although initial responsibility to responding to and initially managing domestic incidents of man-made or natural hazards falls on state and local authorities, I was aware that the federal government may provide assistance when state or local resources are overwhelmed or when federal/Department of Defense (DOD) interests are threatened. With Norfolk as home to the world's largest Navy installation, and key federal agencies having a physical presence in Hampton Roads, it was incumbent of me to become knowledgeable on the terrorist issue, possible threats to the area, specifically Norfolk, and ensuring the appropriate preparedness capability and capacity of the NPD. It was also my responsibility to ensure that city leadership was fully apprised and bought into my efforts for the city and the NPD to be prepared to meet not only nature made emergencies such as hurricanes, but the new potential terrorist threat.
As Chief, I have had many opportunities to network with all levels of government in reference to homeland security. I have served on the Urban Areas Working Group (UAWG) representative for the Hampton Roads Chiefs of Police and in that role, had contact with private and public sector entities in a forum that works toward emergency management and preparedness for the Urban Areas Security Initiative in Southeast Virginia. I also served as an executive board member of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and the Virginia Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC). Due to my level of participation, in times of duress I felt assured that should I have requested assistance from any of these organizations, they would have readily assisted.
Through my participation on the JTTF and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Homeland Security committee, I have gained invaluable insight into the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which consolidated the federal government's emergency response capabilities in the then newly created Department of Homeland Security. With Virginia prone to seasonal hurricanes, state and local leaders and first responders are also more than familiar with the Stafford Act, which allows the President to declare a major disaster with or without a request from the Governor in order to mitigate circumstances that are severely beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local communities. The two pieces of federal legislation have shaped our ability to develop the policies which have made police services a vital component of any response organization.