There are 2 discussions here.

Discussion 1: Barriers to Cooperation

Competencies Addressed in This Discussion

• Competency 3: Articulate how terrorism impacts policy and operations of law enforcement in America.

Introduction

The occurrence of large-scale international terrorism in the U.S. revealed weaknesses in our policies and procedures, in regard to the elements needed to combat such events. Many state-level changes, like new programs, sprang up in an effort to alleviate or eliminate the weaknesses identified by this experience. Last week, we investigated the changes that terrorism brought to the federal government. This week we are examining the changes to state law enforcement.

As the captain of your local police municipality, the next step in your terrorism training and education for the chief is to address the impacts of terrorism on state law enforcement.

For your initial discussion post:

• Describe the failures in communication and cooperation between federal and non-federal law enforcement that allowed terrorist attacks to occur.
• Summarize two key goals for both the fusion centers and joint terrorism task forces.
• Determine how fusion centers and joint terrorism task forces overcome failures in communication and cooperation.
• Identify two resources that state law enforcement agencies contribute toward preventing or responding to terrorism.
• Describe an example of each of the ways resources that state law enforcement agencies contribute can be, or have been, used to successfully combat terrorism.

Discussion Objectives

• Competency 3: Articulate how terrorism impacts policy and operations of law enforcement in America.
  • Describe the failures in communication and cooperation between federal and non-federal law enforcement that allowed terrorist attacks to occur.
  • Summarize two key goals for both the fusion centers and joint terrorism task forces.
  • Determine how fusion centers and joint terrorism task forces overcome failures in communication and cooperation.
  • Identify two resources that state law enforcement agencies contribute toward preventing or responding to terrorism.
  • Describe an example of each of the ways resources that state law enforcement agencies contribute can be, or have been, used to successfully combat terrorism.

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least two of your peers’ posts. When responding to each peer, explain whether his or her post included information similar to, or different from, your own. What additional perspectives about fusion centers or joint terrorism task forces were pointed out by other learners? Where it is possible, use examples from current events to enhance your responses to other learners.

Resources

• • CJ Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
  • G.R.E.A.T. Discussion Guidelines.
  • Community of Excellence.
  • Criminal Justice Undergraduate Research Guide.
• Toggle Drawer

Discussion 2: The Lone Wolf Terrorist

Competencies Addressed in This Discussion

• Competency 3: Articulate how terrorism impacts policy and operations of law enforcement in America.

Introduction

With new threats emerge new tactics and policy. Since 9/11, the most successful terrorist attacks in the U.S. have been perpetrated by the lone wolf terrorist (one or two persons acting autonomously from a larger group). When dealing with a large terrorist cell, or international terrorists, there is typically a money trail, communications, and some sort of noise made in the development of an attack. The group or international terrorists will interact with their global counterparts to receive funding, training, and instructions. In doing so, they expose themselves to interception by intelligence agencies. The lone gunman concept is different.

In your role as the captain researching for the chief, you came across the concept of the lone wolf terrorist. You wish to explain to the rest of the command staff what this term means and what difficulties it brings with it. After that explanation, you intend to introduce ideas for addressing this new method of terrorism and to get input from the other staff members.

For your initial discussion post:

• Inform the group on what is meant by lone wolf terrorist.
• Detail two unique difficulties a lone wolf terrorist act brings to law enforcement.
• Provide two suggestions for action by state law enforcement that may limit this threat.

Discussion Objectives

• Competency 3: Articulate how terrorism impacts policy and operations of law enforcement in America.
  • Inform the group on what is meant by lone wolf terrorist.
  • Detail two unique difficulties a lone wolf terrorist act brings to law enforcement.
  • Provide two suggestions for action by state law enforcement that may limit this threat.

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least two of your peers’ posts. When responding to your peers, explain whether their posts included information similar to, or different from, your own. What additional perspectives or difficulties for law enforcement were pointed out by other learners? Did you perceive the potential threats posed by lone wolf gunmen differently? Were ideas for limiting the threat different from your own? Why or why not? Was there a consensus on which law enforcement methods were best to confront these types of gunmen? Where possible, use current events and the literature to support your responses.

Resources

• CJ Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
• G.R.E.A.T. Discussion Guidelines.
• Community of Excellence.
• Criminal Justice Undergraduate Research Guide.