Progressive Report 6

Counter-Terrorism Unit within Riverview Police Department

The city of Riverview is facing security threats and a new police department was recently approved to blend the existing police units. There is increasing threats from terrorism in the country and Florida in particular that require additional department to enforce law and order in Florida. The large number of tourists visiting the city makes it even more susceptible to the threat of terrorism. Counter-Terrorism requires personnel trained in this area specifically tasked in dealing with terrorism. The unit new anti-Terrorism unit is necessary in this city to liaise with Federal and State security counter-terrorism agencies to counter the threat of Terrorism in the city and its sorroundings.

This unit will be under Riverview police department and will be headed by Deputy Inspector General of police. It will also have 2 deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners. It will have 250 trained personnel specializing in counter-terrorism related activities. It will consist of SWAT members, officials with foreign training counter-terrorism specialty, bomb disposal and dog squad. It will be tasked with combating terrorism and militancy in the city as well as training community in identifying and dealing with terrorism. It will also ensure that diverse counter-terrorism responsibilities and activities are working and increase awareness of terrorism and create a more transparent counter-terrorism activity

Vision statement for the Unit

To protect the residents of Riverview from the threat of terrorism in a way that is intelligent driven, partnership based and governed by existing laws and regulations.

Objectives

The following are objectives of new counter-terrorism unit:

1. Analysis: Counter-terrorism unit will adopt intelligence based strategy to help in preventing any acts of terrorism in Riverview city and Florida

2. Prevention: It will be tasked with stopping persons from becoming, engaging and supporting terrorism and violent extremism.

3. Protection: It is will responsible for reducing the vulnerability of city to terrorism acts

4. Response: The unit will provide targeted and quick response to specific threats and acts of terrorism should they occur.

Justification for the new Unit

It was essential to have a unit that dedicated to combating terrorism and violent extremism and will not be disrupted by engaging in other crimes. In most cases, officers engaged in general crimes may not have time to deal with terrorism. The city of Riverview is also vulnerable to acts of terrorism and violent extremism because of high number of tourists that will be targeted by terrorism elements. In addition, terrorism has evolved in recent years and requires specialists that are well trained and equipped to address the menace (Margolis and March, 2004). This justifies the creation of a separate unit to help deter the growing threats of terrorism in the city and Florida in general.

Position descriptions

Deputy Commissioner: He will be tasked with planning and overseeing all operations of counter-terrorism unit In addition, he also supervises the personnel both directly and indirectly through subordinate supervisors.

Police Lieutenant: they offer administrative assistant to deputy commissioner in charge of the unit and manage the operations of department to ensure they comply with set standards, rules and regulations.

Police sergeant: Are tasked with supervising the enforcement of laws and preventing of crimes in addition to carrying out different duties of the Unit.

Officers: They implement daily counter-terrorism activities.

Budget

Much of budget will be directed to training and purchase of necessary equipment. It will go into buying computers and technological to facilitate analysis of intelligence information, purchase of bomb detection devices, personnel protective equipment and training personnel and dogs (Romesburg, 2005). The total budget for the unit for the first year is estimated at $650,000.

References

Margolis, G. J., & March, N. C. (2004). Creating the police department's image. Police Chief, 71(4), 25-27.

Romesburg, W. H., (2005). Law enforcement tech guide for small and rural police agencies: A guide for executives, managers, and technologists. US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.