Life-threatening Situations

The Dangers of Counterterrorism Operations

The short film by Crime Watch Daily shows a simulation by the elite counterterrorism squad in Los Angeles that depicts a variety of potentially fatal circumstances.

The simulation demonstrates, first and foremost, that the counterterrorism team risks dying instantly when responding to terrorism.

The terrorist may have attacked the special unit or the hostage using a firearm, according to the video.

Furthermore, the deadly gas bomb that the terrorist released during his attack posed a threat to the counterterrorism squad.

The police team was in danger since they were reacting to an unidentified chemical weapon in the scenario.

Similarly, security studies state that the police force and the military face danger while venturing into unfamiliar space because there is no certainty of the outcome of the venture (Grant & Terry, 2012).

In this scenario, the terrorist could have a backup bomb that could have blown the subway, killing everyone in the vicinity.

Other Agencies

There are other agencies involved in counterterrorism operations apart from the elite counterterrorism unit.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) through its Counter-terrorism Division (CTD) could be involved because it is mandated with the task of investigating and responding to terrorism within the US borders (Darmer & Fybel, 2011).

It is important to note that the role of the FBI expanded after the demise of 9/11.

Another agency that could have been involved is the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) that is a federal body made up of experts from the CIA, FBI, and the Department of Defense.

NCTC is responsible for dealing with both international and domestic terrorism.

The organization analyzes intelligence data concerning terrorism, and in this case, it could have analyzed if the sole terrorist had accomplices or any help from outsiders.

On the other hand, since the terrorist simulation happened in LA, the LAPD could have sent its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) because the attack involved a hostage situation.

Lastly, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could have been used to determine the various dimensions of the attack and how to curb acts of domestic and foreign terrorism in the future (Brooks, 2012).

City’s Terrorism Response Component

My city has a terrorism response component.

The terrorism component is composed of the local police involvement because they are involved in the daily patrols within the city and its suburbs.

Community policing is widely practiced under the broken window strategy for effective policing (Brooks, 2012).

The police run sniffer dogs in all public places routinely.

Another strategic component of my city’s counterterrorism preparedness is the 24/7 availability of the emergency medical personnel.

These individuals are professionally trained to respond to a crisis, and they are armed with first responder ambulances in collaboration with the local hospitals both private and public.

Further, with the collaboration of the DHS, the city’s police force runs an Urban Shield program that involves counterterrorism simulations and emergency preparedness training.

The DHS provides grants that fund the Urban Shield program.

Another aspect of the terrorism component in my city is the presence of a SWAT team and a bombs squad that responds to hostage and suspected bomb situations respectively.

Finally, my city is armed with a highly trained fire department equipped with all sorts of fire-fighting equipment.

References

Brooks, B. (2012). Law Enforcement’s Role in US Counterterrorism Strategy. The Police

Journal, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1350/pojo.2010.83.0.480

Darmer, M., & Fybel, R. (2011). National security, civil liberties and the war on terror. Amherst,

N.Y.: Prometheus Books.

Grant, H., & Terry, K. (2012). Law enforcement in the 21st century. Boston: Pearson.