ISOFR: Law Enforcement Online Resource, Homeland Security, Weapon of Mass Destruction, First Responder

Law Enforcement consists of individuals who, on a full-time or voluntary basis, work for agencies at the local, municipal and state level with responsibility as sworn law enforcement officers. This group of individuals consist of the following personnel titles:

Patrol Officers
Swat Teams
Evidence Technicians
Supervision/Management
Incident Command
Investigations

In today's world, Law Enforcement faces a greater threat of terrorism than ever before. For this reason, it is necessary for first responders to obtain the training and experience needed to fulfill their mission of upholding the law and protecting lives.

By definition, a SWAT UNIT is referred to as follows:

A special weapons and tactics unit searches for any potential suspects, provides protection for ongoing operations and conducts high threat searches or executes no-knock warrants.

By definition, PHYSICAL SECURITY is referred to as follows:

Physical Security includes safeguards to identify and reduce vulnerabilities in physical assets, e.g., buildings, tunnels, terminals, stadiums, and places where large groups of persons congregate. This includes technologies for surveillance, intrusion detection, specialized CBRNE detection for entrances and crowd protection.

By definition, a WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION is referred to as follows:

Title 18 U.S.C. 2332a. Defines a weapon of mass destruction as 1) any explosive, incendiary, poison gas, bomb, grenade, or rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, a missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, or a mine or device similar to the above; 2) poison gas; 3) any weapon involving a disease organism; 4) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.

TERRORISM, by definition, is referred to as follows:

A violent act or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of the United States of any segment, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (US Department of Justice).

Training Level Guidelines for Law Enforcement:

Awareness-Level:
This addresses training requirements for law enforcement personnel who are likely to witness or discover an event involving the terrorist/criminal use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or who may be sent out to initially investigate a report of such an event. Generally, personnel should carry out all actions from within the cold zone. If personnel find themselves in the warm or hot zone, they are to move from that zone and encourage others, if ambulatory, to move to a staging area away from the immediate threat. They should attempt to minimize further contamination.

Awareness-Level Guidelines for Law Enforcement Officers:

Recognize hazardous materials incidents.
Know the protocols used to detect the potential presence of WMD agents or materials.
Know and follow self-protection measures for WMD events and hazardous materials events.
Know procedures for protecting a potential crime scene.
Know and follow agency/organization's scene security and control procedures for WMD and hazardous materials events.
Possess and know how to properly use equipment to contact dispatcher or higher authorities to report information collected at the scene and to request additional assistance or emergency response personnel.

Performance-Level:
This level is divided into two parts with a separate set of training guidelines for each. The training guidelines for the law enforcement officer at the performance level target officers who will likely respond to the scene of a hazardous materials event or a potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) event. These officers will conduct operations within the warm zone and/or the hot zone (if properly trained and equipped) at the scene of a potential WMD or hazardous materials incident. It is expected that officers trained for performance level A will work in the warm zone and cold zone and support officers working in the hot zone. Officers trained for performance level B will work in the hot zone as well as in the other zones set up on the incident scene, as needed.

Performance-Level A (Operations Level) Guidelines for Law Enforcement Officers:

Have successfully completed adequate training at the awareness level for events involving hazardous materials, WMD, and other specialized training.
Know the Incident Command System (ICS) and be able to follow Unified Command procedures for integrating and implementating each system.
Know how the systems integrate and support the incident.
Be familiar with the overall operation of the two command systems and be able to assist in implementating Unified Command if necessary.
Know and follow self-protection measures and rescue and evacuation procedures for WMD events.
Know and follow procedures for working at the scene of a potential WMD event.

Performance-Level B (Technician Level) Guidelines for Law Enforcement Officers:

Have successfully completed training at the awareness level and performance level A for events involving hazardous materials, WMD, and other specialized training.
Know and follow self-protection measures and rescue and evacuation procedures for WMD events.
Know and follow procedures for performing specialized work at the scene of a potential WMD event.
Know and follow Incident Command System and Unified Command procedures and steps required to implement each system.
Understand how the two systems will work together.

Planning & Management-Level:
This addresses training requirements for law enforcement officials who are expected to be part of the leadership and management team that will likely respond to an event involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). At the very least, law enforcement managers will be involved in on-site planning for and managing scene security services. They will help set up the crime scene investigation and evidence gathering that will be coordinated with the command post at the scene. These personnel are expected to manage on-site law enforcement resources and assist the incident commander (IC) in bringing the event to a successful conclusion. Generally, law enforcement managers should take all actions from within the cold zone. As access is provided to law enforcement officers to conduct their potential crime scene investigation, there may be times for the law enforcement managers to go into the warm zone. It is expected that law enforcement managers will be integrated into the overall command structure that is implemented for the management and supervision of resources and assets being deployed to mitigate and recover from an overall WMD emergency event.

Planning & Management-Level Guidelines for Law Enforcement Manager:

Have successfully completed training in Awareness, Performance, and Management levels for events involving hazardous materials and WMD.
Know the procedures of the Incident Command System (ICS) and Unified Command (UC) and the steps required to implement each system.
Understand how the systems are integrated and implemented to work together and what information the on-scene manager needs from the law enforcement manager.
Be familiar with the full range of incident command functions and be able to fulfill any functions related to law enforcement operations.
Know protocols for securing and retaining control of the emergency scene and for allowing only authorized persons involved with the emergency incident to gain access to the scene of WMD agents and/or hazardous materials.
Know and follow self-protection measures and protective measures for personnel on the scene of WMD and hazardous materials events.
Know and follow procedures for protecting a potential crime scene.
Know what plans and assets are available for the crime scene investigation and the control of WMD and hazardous materials events for securing and retaining evidence removed from the scene.