CCP 11-19-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Communitv ResDonse to the Threat of Terrorism - A Public Entitv Risk institute Svmposium -----,- ----- -- The task of Incident Command during a lerrorist incident is a co-operative effort between these three main players - the local Fire Departmenl, local Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, . In the past Ihere have been incidents where these three groups did not work cooperatively, This is not the case today, Old style inter-agency rivalry has given way to an era of beller sharing of responsibility and cooperation, Today, faced with shrinking budgels and manpower, a growing terrorist threat, and a media that can be highly critical of emergency response agencies, this most destructive behavior has all but been eliminated, The progression of incident command responsibility at a terrorisl act will pass through these three significant groups, following in time order of what is needed most as the incident unfolds, In order, Ihe Incident Command will rest with: . LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. To assume command during the initial fire, rescue, and medical response to the incident. . LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, To assume command after Ihe fire-rescue- medical threat has been neutralized and to conduct preliminary invesligation until the FBI is prepared to assume command, During the time that the Fire Department is in command, Ihe local law enforcement will follow Ihe Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Protocol for Law Enforcement while it is preparing to assume command, along with gelling itself organized, . . THE FBI. Under the Federal authority of Presidential Decision Directive 39, the FBI is the lead investigative agency in any act of foreign or domestic lerrorism, and will assume command of the incidenl and subsequent criminal investigation, It will take some time for the FBI to have sufficienl resources on the scene 10 assume command. It is crilical that local law enforcement remains on scene to assist and support Ihe FBI in this mission after the role of Incident Command has passed to the FBI. As the three main players come together on the scene, they will form a unified command group, The firsl priority will be to handle all of the fire, rescue, and medical problems, The Fire Departmenl will move to the top of the triangle and set the goals for the operation. Once the fire, rescue and medical efforts have ceased, the local law enforcement agency will move to the top of the triangle and assume incidenl command, . Unified Command at a Terrorist Incident 5