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Responding To 9/11 One Agency’s Initiative to Prepare First Responding Officers
Following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt asked our country to unite and take steps to insure the domestic tranquility of our nation. Just as the attack on Pearl Harbor had left an unforgettable scar on the pages of our nation’s history, the tragic events of September 11th left Americans in a state of shock and concern. Immediately following this attack, President George Bush established the Homeland Defense initiative. For those of us in law enforcement, this program opened the door for unique opportunities and challenges. With 16,000 state and local law enforcement agencies in our country, it was quickly recognized that the 700,000 officers patrolling the streets of the United States would serve as a vital first line of defense. How would we in law enforcement respond to this covert threat living among us? This question would require an integrated response from police agencies with assistance from the communities they serve.
In early October of 2001, the Roanoke Police Department, under the direction of Chief Atlas L. Gaskins, had already set into motion a training initiative focused on the mission of homeland defense. The City of Roanoke is located two and half hours driving time from Richmond, Virginia, and is the largest city in this region. Surrounded by numerous counties, smaller cities and towns, the Roanoke Police Department found itself in a unique situation to set the tone for homeland defense training for hundreds of law enforcement officers across the state of Virginia. Overseeing this initiative is Major Jim Day, Operations Commander, who recognized the training potential of agency personnel. This training initiative was a grass roots effort delegated to street level officers who were recognized as having the skills and experience necessary for the development of an appropriate training curriculum. The mission for this group of individuals was clear. This training program would raise the tactical and technical proficiency of first responding law enforcement officers to the scene of any type of potential terrorist threat. Additionally, this initiative would have to be facilitated without the benefit of pre-designated agency funding. To do this would require calling upon the utilization of resources internal and external of the organization.
The Roanoke Police Department, like many agencies across the country, utilizes a community policing philosophy. Officers are taught to build upon their resources within the community, both at the business and citizen level. This relationship is vital as an agency begins to build a pool of resources to draw upon in event of a critical incident. To address this area, the Roanoke Police Department devoted one officer, full time, to the coordination of this training initiative. Officer Eric Horne, a seasoned street veteran, approached this task utilizing his prior military training combined with street level savvy. To apprise the community in the Roanoke Valley of the law enforcement response, Officer Horne arranged a community forum. This media event allowed citizens to ask questions about the program and register with the agency any individual skills they personally possess. Realizing that a diverse pool of resources would be required should any type of threat materialize, the Roanoke Police openly sought the knowledge, skills and abilities from all interested citizens on a voluntary basis. This pool of community skills continues to be developed and is maintained as reference in the event of an emergency.
The logistical needs for a training sight has been facilitated by the Roanoke Police Department’s own regional training academy. Lt. Keith Sidwell, Academy Director, devoted personnel, time, and academy space to this project. The curriculum developed by the training committee focused on four key components; enhanced first responder techniques, development of a tactical reference guide, site assessments of potential target locations and, community organization. A priority was placed upon regional training in the event of that a multi-jurisdictional response was necessary at any time. Given the closeness of police agencies in the Roanoke Valley, it was recognized that personnel from adjoining police departments might find themselves working in concert with one another. Inclusive of this training curriculum are areas of instruction including passive or active threat potential in the following areas:
(1) Chemical/Nuclear/Biological Threats: Designed to provide the patrol officer with an understanding of the design and structure of the command post and provide the officer with an understanding of the role of supervisors and the need to delegate responsibility. (2) Bomb Threats/Detonations: Officers are trained on aspects of handling bomb threats and/or detonations of explosive devices. The training is designed to elaborate on previous training from the officers’ basic academy. (3) Active Shooter/Sniper Situations: This section of training covers issues related to officer and citizen safety concerns associated with response to this potential or real threat. Perimeter concerns and use of terrain is covered. (4) Hostage Situations: This section also builds upon the basic academy instruction related to basic field responsibilities, decision-making and tactics. (5) Perimeter Establishment: In this section officers are trained in appropriate techniques necessary to establishing perimeters and their practical use in the appropriate situations. Details that will improve the use of perimeters are discussed, as well as safety aspects necessary to both the responding officers and citizens. (6) Evacuation Processes: This block of training focuses upon various techniques to be utilized given the nature of the threat. Responses associated with a weapon of mass destruction, explosives and hostage/sniper situations are all reviewed.
Specific instruction was also provided on terrain analysis by utilizing the military acronym, O.C.O.K.A. (Observation/Cover and concealment/Obstacles/Key terrain/Avenues of approach and escape). The next area of instruction featured incident status updates that emphasize the quick reporting of the situation, area affected, location for secondary responding units, and additional equipment needs. Crowd control techniques, as well as command and control issues are also emphasized, followed by the need for a thorough after action review of all situations in accordance with CALEA standards. The process of conducting a thorough site assessment is also addressed from both a tactical and crime prevention perspective. In order to test the proficiency of the participants in the areas of instruction, a series of practical exercises have been developed that include both tabletop and performance based drills. During this phase of the training, participates utilize a tactical quick reference guide designed by the instructor core group. This shirt pocket reference, based on the military model of the Ranger Pocket Guide, serves as a general tactical and organizational outline, providing key elements of information vital to the responding officer in a crisis situation.
This level of training would not have been possible without the partnerships that have been formed with private businesses and citizens within the community. Carilion Health Systems of the Roanoke Valley, the Virginia Army Air National Guard, and ITT Night Vision have all contributed resources to this training initiative. Every cost aspect of this training was covered through the generosity of external sources. This re-enforces the need for law enforcement agencies across the country to utilize the principles of community policing to promote partnerships with the community they serve. In the six months since the first training class was conducted, twenty-nine jurisdictions have been represented from across the Commonwealth of Virginia. This training initiative has provided 6,872 hours of individual instruction for over three hundred participants from local and state level agencies. It is now obvious, following the tragic events of September 11th, that terrorist acts can be a threat to any community. This does not mean that as Americans we should cease the everyday activities that make our country the greatest nation in the world. Law enforcement agencies across the country must prepare all personnel to respond appropriately to any potential threat against our freedom.
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