Homeland Security Training: Law Enforcement and Community Interactions

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Terrorist attacks have increased throughout the world since the events of September 11th, 2001 when the World Trade Center was toppled by two commercial airliners. The attacks would catch America, and the rest of the world, off guard allowing for a newfound sense of vulnerability and fear (Gerber, Cohen, Cannon, Patterson, & Stewart, 2005). Responding to the attacks, and the potential for others, the United States took precautions to safeguard the American people and its infrastructure. Protection would manifest in the form of legislation, new tactics, and departments adapting to new threats. Policing also experienced change as the bigger picture now included a relevant terrorist threat. Using data from the Council of State Governments and Eastern Kentucky University (2005) survey, this research will examine the influence of terrorism on policing practices, particularly levels of training, to address the threat of terrorism.

Authors

• Richard Wentling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Jonathon A. Cooper, Indiana University of Pennsylvania