INTELLIGENCE, TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY/POLITICS
Police administration has been formalized in order to provide an organized system of policing.In the 1970's, professional models of policing have been expanded towards reaching the community and the police are considered to be the best judges on how to deal with peace and order in the community.In the modern era, effective policing is extremely important in protecting life, liberty and property to ensure peace and order. The effective law enforcement is important in counteracting terrorism and other security issues that can threaten the national and global peace and order. The emerging threat of global terrorism becomes a significant issue in reinforcing the operation of a professional law enforcement system, enhancing intelligence, strengthening homeland security and police administration.
For decades, the police professionalism substantially increased and the public is now showing higher expectations on the performance of the law enforcements and their proficiency in counteracting crimes and the global threats for terrorism. The collective impact of all forms of crimes and violence call for the organization of an efficient law enforcement system. Police departments already exist as early as 1957 but the national interest for its professional organization emerged not until the 1970's (Gaines and Worrall23). With the growing numbers of crimes and the acts of terrorism, state officials are now seeking to develop better improvements on their strategies and administrative policies.The modern techniques in law enforcement administration were adopted in order to improve police administration and law enforcement approaches.
After the tragic terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland Security was organized to further strengthen the aviation and border security of the United States and to provide better protection against bioterrorism and enhance the sharing of intelligence from various intelligence agencies and to maximize law enforcement resources and infrastructures (The Department of Homeland Security 2). The organization of the department posed a significant change on the role of state police as being different from the local law enforcement agencies. Generally speaking, the law enforcement relationships, roles and responsibilities are consistently being assessed and redefined to suit the changing trend of terrorist threats. Due to the imminent threat of terrorism, shifting of the priorities of resources were among the impact of the organization of the Homeland Security, with about 10 percent of the resources of state agencies being allocated from the local criminal investigations to international public security measures (The Council of State Governments and Eastern Kentucky University 10).
More federal grant fundings are currently provided to strengthen the resources against terrorism and in intelligence gathering.Carter defines intelligence as an analysis of raw information to provide synergistic knowledge about a threat (10).The Homeland Security conducts intelligence and information analysis in coordination with multiple agencies such as the FBI, NSA and FBI to assess current and future threats.To reinforce the operation of a professional law enforcement in intelligence gathering, it is important to map the vulnerabilities of the law enforcement infrastructure and work closely with the local and state levels.Partnership with other agencies can help improve and strengthen the ability of the Homeland Security to obtain crucial information on threats.Working closely with state and local officials and other federal agencies including the private sector can help the department secure the appropriate steps to protect high risk targets for terrorism.
It can be noted that intelligence within the purview of law enforcement includes the application of intelligence discipline using the rules, processes and concepts of intelligence functions.At the heart of the intelligence activities is the sharing of information. The exploitation of open source information is considered to be the source of first resort in intelligence operation. Information gathering is critical in intelligence operation in the development of law enforcement policies and operational responses.Masse and Rollins indicate that intelligence process plays a vital role in preventing terrorism and intelligence fusion is essential for obtaining better results. The value of a fusion center is vital as it can provide a wide range of useful data, including non-traditional data sources in creating a more comprehensive picture of threats (3).To enhance the value of the fusion center, intelligence analysis and production capabilities must be assessed with enhanced intelligence sharing and dissemination. There must be flow of information from the state and local entities to the Homeland Security to improve access with the local official and to expand situational awareness on threats of terrorism. Moreover, the fusion of information should also include the consultation on state and local issues for consideration when gathering intelligence.
The laws and regulations on intelligence information were enhanced to provide an efficient design of intelligence sharing policy and implementation of procedures to enhance the ability of fighting terrorism.As can be noted, some pieces of information coming from varied sources are raw data, some of which may have limited access, such as bank records, wiretaps and surveillance. The information gathered are assessed for reliability and validity as well. This makes coordinated efforts and access to information important from various agencies and the process of coordination is strengthened with political intervention such as congressional acts that would help enhance the intelligence sharing among departments and other entities.
Both the state and local law enforcement agencies are currently faced with the need for modern intelligence tools and facilities, investigators and intelligence related analysts.The increasing demands for these resources are probably brought about by several converging factors. Within the intelligence community, the attack on 9/11 demonstrated some lapses on the sharing of intelligence from different government agencies. There was no adequate sharing of relevant counterterrorism information from different law enforcement agencies before the terrorism attack happened (Best 4). As can be gleaned from the research study of Riley, Treverton, Wilson and Davis, counterterrorism intelligence activity can hold the promise of increasing a law enforcement agency's effectiveness against organized crimes, terrorism, drug trafficking and gang activity (60). On the other hand, Ronczkowski noted that transforming information into quality intelligence will require time and skills. Both are required in terms of the homeland security and terrorism analysis (151).
Intelligence against international terrorism has its objective of data acquisition to anticipate action of terrorist groups. For many years, intelligence analysts work out significantly on linking, locating, forecasting, predicting and reacting to intelligence data gathered in order to take the proper course of action in facilitating law enforcement activities and making arrests. In order to produce better outcomes from the anti-terrorism programs within the law enforcement levels, it is crucial to implement a statewide planning that will help reduce the regional and jurisdictional barriers for the enhancement of the homeland security systems and efforts against terrorism. The development of an organized professional law enforcement structure is deemed essential in order to reinforce the capability of various law enforcement agencies to collect, analyze, collate data and disseminate information with other law enforcement agencies in a more efficient manner. A collaborative approach among law enforcement professionals, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and even academic institutions will help strengthen homeland security.
Because the threat for terrorism pays no respect to geographical borders, it has become a part of homeland security strategy to promote international cooperation in support of a systematic international agenda against terrorism (Bennett 19). Professional law enforcement structures are widely observed with regionalization taking place in many states in order to promote more efficient security measures and law enforcement policies and procedures that best fit to the unique security conditions and threats within a particular region. Problems involved in the efficient measure of providing homeland security was caused by too much centralization, ingrained politics and complacency (Mayer, Carafano and Zuckerman 1). The regionalization of law enforcement policies and procedures on terrorism provides a solution that help in narrowing the gap in security lapses and inefficiency in homeland security.
The post terrorist attack in 9/11 also brought signifcant changes in the police administration. Community policing became an important aspect of professional law enforcement where better relationship between the community and law enforcers was viewed to be essential in crime prevention and preventing terrorist attacks. Moreover, the modern local police administration recognizes the need for coordinating state and federal intelligence to respond to terrorist threats (Gaines and Worral 27). Currently, the police organization now coincide within the realms of societal structures and problems to better respond to threats and provide more efficient policing that address homeland security and community peace and order.
The lack of research on local police agencies resulted in the lack of knowledge about state police structures and practices. There is a need to understand further the needs to improve the law enforcement policies and structures in order to strengthen further its ability to respond to threats. It should be noted that the local law enforcement departments provides a bulk of law enforcement services to the community. They are the first responders to all kinds of threats to the rural community and need the resources in order to enhance their ability to respond to critical situations such as the threat for terrorism (Council of State Governments and Eastern Kentucky University 11).
Political initiatives can also significantly improve the development of professional law enforcements in the local, state and federal levels. Erwin and Balasco cited that one of the significant components of the federal budget is devoted to intelligence appropriations (1). Political initiatives are currently directed towards improving the allocation of funding in intelligence gathering, especially in reinforcing the resource allocation for both the tactical and strategic intelligence purposes. Currently congressional intelligence appropriation is constantly being reviewed to suit the needs for both the intelligence and defense appropriation needs in law enforcements. Cogressional inquiries were also conducted within the intelligence community where the efficiency of the intelligence operations are assessed including the propriety of the actual operations by the law enforcers. National crime commissions were created in order to review various issues on crimes and all forms of threats to help develop a more efficient law enforcerment structure.
In conclusion, professionalism within the law enforcement agencies has become institutionalized in the advent of critical threats to homeland security, such as the international threat of terrorism. While law enforcement agencies are established within the local, state and federal levels, collaborating intelligence and vital information on potential current and future threats among them remains to be essential for the efficient administration of intelligence gathering. Fusion centers of intelligence demonstrated to improve the ability to respond to terrorism threats and other criminal activities. Obtaining modern intelligence tools and facilities are necessary to better respond to terrorism and political initiatives and congressional acts were directed in allocating funding to reinforce the intelligence and defense appropriations. Adequate resources must therefore be available to mobilize the law enforcement agencies more efficiently.
The attack on 9/11 also remarkably influenced the rigorous response to the threats of terrorism and the Homeland Security Department was established. The department made a significant impact to the police administration and it sets more priorities on community policing, intelligence gathering and enhanced collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies. Professional law enforcement now became a systematic and standardized institution with more defined responsibilities and roles in responding to local and international threats of terrorism. Political initiatives are necessary to support this major step in addressing terrorism and other forms of homeland security threats.
REFERENCES
Bennett, Brian. Understanding, assessing, and responding to terrorism. Protecting critical infrastructure and personnel. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. 2007.
Best, Richard. Sharing Law Enforcement and Intelligence Information: The Congressional Role. Washington, D.C.:Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. 2007.
Carter, David. Law enforcement intelligence: A guide for state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. Community Oriented Policing Services. US Department of Justice. 2009. Web. 18 February 2016. <https://it.ojp.gov/documents/d/e050919201-IntelGuide_web.pdf>.
Council of State Governments and Eastern Kentucky University. The impact of terrorism on state law enforcement: Adjusting to new roles and changing conditions Final Report. US Department of Justice. Web. 18 February 2016. <https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/216642.pdf>.
Erwin, Marshall and Balasco, Amy. Intelligence spending and appropriations: Issues for congress. Congressional Research Service. 1-21. 2013.
Gaines, Larry and Worrall, John. Police Administration. New York: Cengage Learning. 2012.
Mayer, Matt, Carafano, James and Zuckerman, Jessica. Homeland security 4.0: Overcoming centralization, complacency and politics. Homeland Security Report. 2011. Web. 18 February 2016. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/08/homeland-security-4-0-overcoming-centralization-complacency-and-politics>.
Masse, Todd and Rollins, John. Information and intelligence (including terrorism) fusion centers. New York: Nova Science Publishers. 2008.
Riley, Jack, Treverton, Gregory, Wilson, Jeremy and Davis, Lois. State and local intelligence in the war on terrorism. California: RAND Corporation. 2005.
Ronczkowski, Michael. Terrorism and organized hate rime. Intelligence gathering analysis and investigations. New York: CRC Press. 2012.
The Council of State Governments and Eastern Kentucky University. The impact of terrorism on state law enforcement. Adjusting to new roles and changing conditions. National Institute of Justice. 2005. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://www.csg.org/knowledgecenter/docs/Misc0504Terrorism.pdf>.
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