The attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11 caused the public and the government to reevaluate our homeland security. The New York Fire Department, the New York Police Department, CIA, FBI all were working together to help out with rescue, protection, and investigation. The past is the past and there is no sense wondering if the intelligence were better, if these agencies were working together before, would that have prevented the attacks? What does make sense, is wondering if these agencies are working together now, will it prevent future attacks? Terrorism is unpredictable, and the people who engage in terrorist acts are different from ordinary criminals in that they are doing it for a cause and not for self-gratification. Terrorists are more dangerous than ordinary criminals. In my opinion, the best offense is a good defense; and since we cannot predict the future, being prepared is the next best thing.
Intelligence operations need to be expanded on a local, state, and federal level; not increased, but more evenly distributed. Federal agencies and law enforcement do not typically share information with each other; and this lack of communication can put citizens in danger regarding terrorist attacks. The FBI is perceived by local law enforcement as withholding intelligence, and therefore do not trust the FBI. Citizens want protection from terrorists; but they fear the prospect of the United States becoming a police state. Therefore, law enforcement is reluctant to be associated with government in order to save face with society. In some situations, though, the police need to be informed about terrorist activities, so they know what to look for while on patrol. Police officers need to be properly trained in what to do with information about, and evidence of terrorism. They need to be able to quickly get new intelligence to the proper authorities who are equipped to deal with the situation. A lot of terrorists can be stopped if the local police are paying attention to details. Being aware of little discrepancies, like misspellings on identification systems, racist or violent propaganda and literature, and weapons could make the difference in stopping a dangerous attack (White, 2004, p. 60). If a police officer takes notice of the warning signs, a regular traffic stop could turn into a heroic event. State and local police should not be responsible for the investigation of terrorism, which should be left to government agencies in homeland security. Police still have the responsibility of maintaining order in their communities, and dealing with civilian crime. That is not a reason, however, to turn a blind eye to domestic terrorism.
Police face the dilemma of working together with other agencies, sharing information, and taking action. The drift between government and state needs to narrow, allowing for a smoother transportation of information between agencies. Trained police officers need to be prepared for any kind of attack since they are usually the first responders. Police need to be trained to handle a biological or a chemical attack; they need to know who to contact, and they need to help that agency maintain order among civilians. Federal agencies can utilize the police force, open the lines of communication, and gather information that is essential in protecting America; but they need to have the appropriate defense agency available to act on the intelligence. Police agencies need to be more open to critical and abstract thinking, instead of the typical “yes, sir” thinking (White, 2004, p. 38). Police do not need to be directly involved with in homeland security; they need only to be aware of signs of danger, and able to pass along the information to the proper authorities.
Many citizens of the United States probably fear the involvement of state police with government agencies. Citizens feel like the integration would give the government more unnecessary power, and eliminate more rights of the people. The government already has the power with the Patriot Act to invade our privacy; see what books we read, look into our computers, listen in to our phone conversations, and view our credit and financial information. It is a large scale sacrifice of our social contract with the government for protection from the “evil-doers”. We want our Fourth Amendment Constitutional rights of privacy to be honored; but we also want to be protected against terrorist attacks. It is a scary thought that the police should have those same advantages over the people, and so law enforcement needs to remain more of a first response team. Law enforcement needs to be able to stabilize a situation until the proper government agency can take over. Executive powers do not need to be increased, but rather more evenly distributed.
The government already has the power to defend the homeland, with many different specialized agencies at its disposal. In 2002 the Bush administration signed the Homeland Security Act calling for the reform of intelligence and information sharing between state and local agencies with federal law enforcement. The departments that are now under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as described by Jonathan White on p. 85 of Defending the Homeland: Domestic Intelligence, Law Enforcement, and Security are:
United States Secret Service; National Infrastructure Protection Center; Energy Assurance Office; National Communications System; United States Coast Guard; Customs Service; Transportation Security Administration; Federal Protective Service; Functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Office of Domestic Preparedness; selected functions of Department of Agriculture; Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; National Bio-Weapons Defense Analysis Center; Nuclear threat assessment programs; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Domestic Emergency Support Team; Metropolitan Medical Response System; National Disaster Medical System; Strategic National Stockpile of the Department of Public Health; Nuclear Incident Response Team; A new Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The new department is arranged under five Under Secretaries for: Information Analysis and Infrastructure; science and technology; Border and Transportation Security; emergency Preparedness and Response; and Management Services (2004).
Do I believe that executive powers need to be increased? No, I do not. I believe the government has plenty of resources and alternatives available. I do think that local law enforcement has the responsibility to pass along important information, and to respond to emergency situations. The police are mainly responsible, though, for protecting and serving their communities, and they need to honor that allegiance instead of putting more focus into homeland security and domestic terrorism. Law enforcement needs to be aware of important clues, and be able to contact the appropriate authorities with valuable information. Government agencies need to allow for more open communication between all agencies, and state and local law enforcement.
Reference
White, J.R. (2004). Defending the homeland: Domestic intelligence, law enforcement,
and security. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
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