Q.

1 What are the specific challenges in evaluating community-policing approaches to

preventing terrorism and countering VERLT, and what can make these more effective?

A whole community approach is necessary to prepare for acts of terrorism

and targeted violence. Law enforcement must engage public and mental health
officials, educators, fire departments, EMS, emergency managers, faith leaders,
businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and community organizations in
prevention, response, and recovery planning. Each and every member of the
community has an important role in identifying persons in need of support and
service and the resources that can be provided in response to a crisis event.

Planning efforts must identify community resources and engage them in

exercises and drills, so that during a crisis, they are readily available and have a
clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in response to an act of
terrorism or other critical incident. The time to build and strengthen relationships
is before a crisis – during an event it is too late. 

The value of community planning and preparedness has been demonstrated in

many of the critical incident reviews conducted by CMVRS. In San Bernardino,
Orlando, Kalamazoo, Broward County, and Charlotte, the collaboration and
coordination among law enforcement, fire, EMS, hospitals, government officials,
and community organizations saved lives and continues to play an integral role in
the recovery from these horrific events.

Q.2 How are members of the public likely to react to police attempting to engage with them on
the issue of preventing terrorism and countering VERLT? 10 pts

Community policing as a concept has been interpreted and implemented in a variety of

ways by countries in the OSCE area and beyond. This is primarily a consequence of differences in
history, culture, legal traditions, and politics that have affected the manner in which policing has
evolved. A community policing approach to preventing terrorism needs to be adapted to the
political, social and geographical context in which it is to be implemented. Commonalities exist,
however, when it comes to how accountability and engagement could be approached to be
effective and true to the principles underlying democratic policing.

Q.3 What aspects of tasking and procedures should be clarified to provide a framework that
would enable community police officers to help to prevent terrorism and counter VERLT? 10 pts

Community support cannot be assumed; it must be won. This holds particularly true with regard
to preventing and countering terrorism, which is an issue that may appear irrelevant, very remote or too
sensitive to members of the public, and even engender suspicion and hostility vis-à-vis the police in
some communities. Winning community support might take a significant amount of time and effort,
depending on the general relationship between the public and the police and the level of democratic
policing that already exists in a given society. It is important that the police commit both energy and
resources in support of a long-term strategy. Among the key principles of democratic policing and thus
of community policing are that the police are accountable to the public for their conduct, their actions
and the outcomes of their actions, and that they should respect and protect the rights of community
members. These principles should apply to the police as a whole, including community police and police
tasked with counterterrorism.