First Responder

Looking at the threat of global terrorism from a local perspective and how to best prepare for a sudden attack can be a daunting and complex task fret with challenges. In the face of the international terrorism threat, first responders are the guardians of the public and must be prepared to react at a moment’s notice. They manage many risks when attempting to counter or respond to threats in their communities. First responders risk not only the safety, but the social integrity of their communities with every decision they make in the fight against terrorism. In order to effectively counter or respond to an international terrorist event on US soil, first responders must make decisions which risk community cohesion and the proper allocation of

For example, the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment guide calls on first responders to be able to contextualize threats and know how threats will affect their specific communities (Department of Homeland Security, 2013). This cannot be achieved if first responders are unfamiliar with the populations they serve in terms of where they gather, who they speak with, the alliances and allegiances they maintain, the knowledge of any threats hiding or even intentionally being hid within their community, and so on. Any plans constructed by first responders would need to account for all of the above for the most efficient and successful prevention and reaction possible. The National Response Framework makes a point of calling on local, state, and tribal authorities to make evacuation plans tailored to the populations they serve, in order to ensure “integration and inclusion” (Department of Homeland Security, 2016). Thus, it is crucial that first responders identify barriers to relationships with the public so that they may best serve them and come to know them and recognize the risks of failing to do

They grapple with not only the risk of a terrorist attack against them and their communities, but in turn they risk their own effectiveness in the fight depending on how the local agencies they work for choose to act when putting together their best plans to protect the public. By maintaining trust-based relationships with the communities they serve, they can better ensure important information flows where it needs to ensure timely and adequate response to threats. By placing resources where they are most effective, first responders can further reinforce their intelligence network and keep the meta-threat of terrorism in focus and realistic. While it requires a dedicated diligence on a local level, which is not always easy, it also helps ensure the safety of the greater country as a whole.

References

The Cell Museum. “Recognizing 8 Signs of Terrorism.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 June 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWnKvhVnl9U. Newman, G., & Clarke, R. (2008). Policing Terrorism: An Executive's Guide (COPS Manual).

Randol, B. (2013). An Exploratory Analysis of Terrorism Prevention and Response Preparedness

Efforts in Municipal Police Departments in the United States: Which Agencies Participate in Terrorism Prevention and Why? The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, 86(2),