"... one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence, facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention and leadership training"   US Senate

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Vincent Bove Article

Published in:

The Police Chief Executive, March 2005

The Practitioner, Fourth Quarter 2004

The New Jersey Police Chief, November 2004

NY Real Estate Journal, October 12, 2004

 
Practical Tips for Security in an Age of Violence
By Vincent J. Bove, CPP

On July 22, 2004 �The 9/11 Commission Report�, that is, the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States was released. This report should be required reading for all law enforcement, security officials and citizenry seriously committed to terrorism awareness, preparedness and prevention. In the chapter, �What to do? A Global Strategy� the report clearly emphasizes the criticality of partnerships between the public and private sector and strongly recommends �Private-Sector Preparedness�. The report states that �the mandate of the Department of Homeland Security does not end with government; the department is also responsible for working with the private sector to ensure preparedness. This is entirely appropriate for the private sector controls 85 percent of the critical infrastructure in the nation. Indeed, unless a terrorist�s target is a military or other secure government facility, the �first� first responders will almost certainly be civilians�.

Therefore, it is also essential that law enforcement and private security experts exercise collaborative leadership to protect facilities. To this extent, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends these protective measures to protect soft targets (residences, recreational and shopping venues, business complexes, etc.) from terrorists:

  • Train personnel to be alert and to immediately report any situation that appears to constitute a threat or suspicious activity
  • Provide leadership for guard force turn-over procedures and personnel authentication practices
  • Rearrange exterior vehicles barriers, traffic cones and road blocks to alter traffic patterns near facilities
  • Institute/increase visible vehicle, foot and roving patrols that vary in size, timing and routes
  • Arrange for law enforcement vehicles to be parked near entrances and exits
  • Limit the number of access points and strictly control access control procedures
  • Approach all illegally parked vehicles in and around facilities, question drivers and direct them to move immediately. If an owner cannot be identified, have vehicle towed by law enforcement
  • Increase perimeter and parking lot lighting
  • Deploy visible security cameras and motion sensors
  • Review security camera footage daily to detect possible indicators of preoperational surveillance
  • Remove vegetation that obstructs view in and around perimeters and maintain it regularly
  • Institute a robust vehicle inspection program, including but not limited to checking under the undercarriage of vehicles, under the hood and in the trunk. Personnel must be properly trained with this inspection program and have the proper equipment
  • Deploy explosive detection devices and explosives detection canine teams
  • Conduct vulnerability studies focusing on physical security, structural engineering, infrastructure engineering, power, water and air filtration. (The CDC has published �Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological or Radiological Attacks�. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/terrorresp.html)

Aside from a partnership between law enforcement and private security leaders in providing training for diversity and soft targets, training sessions should also be conducted to specifically train workplace personnel on issues such as �Signs of Terrorist Activity�. The public is the eyes and ears complimenting the work of law enforcement and security professionals. Therefore, training sessions by law enforcement and security leaders should emphasize these aspects of terrorism awareness:

Surveillance

Individuals should take note and report such things as someone recording, photographing or monitoring activities, drawing diagrams or annotating on maps, the use of vision-enhancing devices, having in one�s possession floor plans or blue prints of places such as high-tech firms, financial institutions or government/military facilities. Any of these surveillance type acts may be indicators that something is not right.

Elicitation

This is pertaining to anyone attempting to gain information about a place, person or operation. An example is someone attempting to gain knowledge about a critical infrastructure like a tunnel, power plant, water reservoir, bridge, a corporation or maritime port. Terrorists may attempt to research bridge and tunnel usage, make unusual inquiries concerning shipments or inquire as to how a military base operates. Inappropriate elicitation about a company should also be a concern that is immediately reported to authorities.

Tests of Security

Terrorists can attempt data collection by driving by the target, moving into sensitive areas and observing security or law enforcement response. They would be interested in the time in which an incident is responded to by authorities.

Acquiring Supplies

A red flag should be raised if someone is purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons or ammunition. It is also a concern if someone is storing harmful chemicals or chemical equipment. Terrorists would also find it useful to have in their possession law enforcement equipment, ids, decals or flight passes, badges or even flight manuals.

Suspicious People Who Do Not Belong

Someone in a workplace, building, neighborhood or business establishment that does not fit in because of their demeanor, language usage or unusual questions that they are asking.

Dry Runs

Before execution of the final operation or plan, a practice session will be run to work out the flaws and unanticipated problems. A dry run may very well be the heart of a planning stage of a terrorist act. It is usually during this stage that it is actually the best chance to intercept and stop an attack.

Deploying Assets / Getting into Position

This is the last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs.

Nearly 3,000 people died on a day of infamy on the American homeland. In lower Manhattan, on a field in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, the United States suffered the single largest loss of life from an enemy attack on its soil. America must rise to the occasion, avoid having a short-term memory and establish a culture of leadership that cultivates partnerships, prevention and education.

Vincent J. Bove, CPP is a Board Certified Protection Professional, Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Law Enforcement Instructor and U.S. Department of Justice Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Awareness Trainer.

He is the 2007 New Jersey recipient of the prestigious FBI Director's Community Leadership Award and was hand-selected to serve as a facilitator and mentor for the 2007 National Conference on Ethics in America and speaker for the 2008 conference at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

"Vincent J. Bove is considered one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence prevention, specializing in facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention and leadership training." -- U.S. Senate

You can visit Mr. Bove's website at www.vincentbove.com or email him at vincent@vincentbove.com

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