Security's Editorial Advisory Board member Dean Alexander, an author of several books on terrorism and a Western Illinois University School of Law Enforcement professor and director of the WIU Homeland Security Research Program, will be a part of a training program for more than 60 new incoming Illinois police chiefs through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute.
In the event of a critical situation or emerging risk, for example, a terrorist incident or a local COVID-19 outbreak, rapidly delivering crucial information to the right audience is imperative. Here we explore a few mass notification solutions available that can help communicate and collaborate during global and critical events and emergencies.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf released the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA). This first-of-its-kind report synthesizes threat information across DHS including intelligence and operational components.
On September 1 and 2, DHS Policy’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention program (TVTP) hosted the 5th Digital Forum on Terrorism Prevention for approximately 60 mostly Atlanta-based civil society leaders. This year’s Forum gave these leaders an opportunity to learn directly from technology and marketing experts on how to combat terrorist use of the internet. Community leaders attended multiple sessions over the two-day Forum, including: “The Threat—Narratives & Recruitment in the Online Space;” “Responses to Terrorism;” “Research, Trends & Data;” “Tech Talk & Toolkit;” and “Online to Offline Interventions & Referrals.”
In an effort to substantially improve the safety and security of Jewish communal institutions across the greater New York area, the Community Security Initiative (CSI) and the Community Security Service (CSS) announced an operational partnership that will synchronize field operations, coordinate deployments of volunteers, share intelligence, and conduct both joint training and joint tabletop exercises. CSI is a joint initiative of UJA-Federation of New York and Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY).
In September 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence (CTTV Framework) and now offers this corresponding Public Action Plan demonstrating the Department’s efforts to combat emerging threats and improve information sharing.
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented chain reaction of border closures around the world. This truly is an extraordinary situation, and many countries have also grappled with lack of information, resources and coordination between relevant agents and authorities. These operational issues have raised questions globally about whether border controls are effective in containing such outbreaks, how prepared border agencies were for the emergency and what this will mean for border management in a post-pandemic world.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced more than $17 million in federal funding has been awarded to 178 nonprofit organizations facing an increased risk of terrorism to strengthen the security of their facilities as well as enhance their overall preparedness.
All too often, business leaders, city planners, fire departments, and law enforcement focus on their mandates to the exclusion of others. Unfortunately, this approach can lead to a breakdown in communication and missed opportunities. In the worst cases, it can create a lapse in security that could make their city and its citizens vulnerable to criminal activity and terrorist attacks. But, by eliminating these silos and fostering strong communication, stakeholders can share information that allows them to quickly address evolving situations.
A John Jay College of Criminal Justice project on cyber-terrorism is one of 13 selected by the Department of Homeland Security as part of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center, a new DHS Center of Excellence. The project will be housed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
