Terrorism and Community Policing
For this graded project, you'll read pages 11–36 of Edges of Radicalization by Scott Helfstein. Helfstein argues that the radicalization of terrorists results from ideological beliefs interacting with social behaviors, producing common characteristics that may be supportive of conceptual profiles. There's much debate in the academic and law enforcement communities as to whether these profiles have a continuing practical value in light of current terrorist activity by "lone wolves." Helfstein's analysis will serve as your backdrop in understanding recent terrorist activity and law enforcement's efforts to address and prevent such activity in the future
You'll also choose one other article on terrorism and an article on community policing from the provided library of articles and research material. Each of these articles contains current scholarly thinking about the community's role in combatting terrorism, the role of law enforcement in fostering community vigilance to report potential terrorist activity and lone wolf terrorism.
You should also use your research skills to locate one additional scholarly article on terrorism or community policing which supports at least one of the tenets in your paper. Make sure you properly cite your source.
This graded project requires that you cite the Edges of Radicalization and at least two other sources from the curated library of reading material.
Article Library
In addition to the Edges of Radicalization, read and cite at least two of the following articles, one for lone wolf terrorism and one for community policing response to terrorism.
Yonah Alexander, et al. The Lone Wolf Terrorist: Past Lessons, Future Outlook, and Response Strategies. Note: You should use the article by Professor Dean Alexander on pages 32–37 for your research only if you use this as an additional source.
International Association of Chiefs of Police. Using Community Policing to Counter Violent Extremism. Note: If you use this source, rely on the Key Principles on pages 9–21 for your research.
Bart Schuurman, et al. End of the Lone Wolf: The Typology that Should Not Have Been.
Ahmet Guler. Fighting Terrorism Through Community Policing.
Scenario
You've just been asked by your police chief to serve as the department's community relations officer specializing in terrorism. You've built a tremendous relationship with a diverse community, and many of the community leaders have asked that you be appointed to this position. Your assignment will include recommending to the chief ways to effectively establish, maintain, and improve the relationship with the community to prevent and respond to terrorist activities.
You'll be presenting your ideas to the chief and her executive staff before you release your report to the committee leaders. Be aware that several of the department's deputy police chiefs have had major clashes with the community leaders on policing strategies that would involve joint efforts of the community and police and may look to derail your ideas.
Instructions
Write a 5- to 6-page essay that includes the following:
A brief history of the philosophy of community policing
The common problems faced by the ethnic and racial groups of the community
Overt steps that can be taken by the department to establish relationships with the community to identify possible terrorist targets and actors
Strategies for building realistic and functional partnerships with the community as they relate to terrorism
Efforts that should be instituted to install sensitivity training for all police officers
Methods for directly bringing the public and the police together to report suspicious activity prior to actual terrorist acts
A clear and direct line of communication between citizens and senior staff in the department
Terrorism prevention strategies to be implemented in partnership with the community, with specific reference to lone wolf terrorists
Support your narrative with examples and/or illustrations. Be sure to cite your sources in APA format.
Remember, you must include Edges of Radicalization and at least two other sources from the article library. You're free to conduct additional research and cite additional sources.
Terrorism and Community Policing
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Terrorism and Community Policing
Based on Scott Helfstein, the radicalization of terrorists emanates from the interaction of social behaviors and ideological beliefs, leading to common characteristics that support conceptual profiles. In particular, it involves awareness, interest, acceptance, and implementation (Helfstein, 2012). Community policing is crucial in averting terrorism. When law enforcers are well-connected or have good relationships with the communities they serve, it becomes easy for them to identify people who are likely to embrace extremism, violence, and radicalize others. The paper focuses on how community policing is an effective way that can be used to establish, improve, and maintain proper relationships with diverse communities to respond to and prevent terrorist activities.
Community policing refers to the philosophy that fosters effective strategies that law enforcement officers can use to prevent terrorist activities in society by promoting public safety. Notably, community-oriented policing began in the 19th century and was proposed by Robert Peel, a British statesman. His notion was that law enforcers can prevent crime without intruding into individuals’ lives. In the twenty-first century, the philosophy of community policing has been well-positioned and plays a significant role in responding to and preventing terrorist activities. In other terms, community policing allows law enforcers to build and sustain relationships with diverse communities. Law enforcement officers are expected to handle all community members equally and with respect and dignity (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2014). Successful partnerships between law enforcers and communities allow the former to know the concerns and needs of people, which is crucial in countering terrorist or extremist initiatives. As such, community policing is significant in eradicating crime and terrorism in society.
Ethnic and racial groups of the community encounter various problems. The common issues are marginalization, discrimination by the dominant culture, violations of human rights, stereotyping, and crimes against humanity. Some of these ethnic groups go through numerous problems, which is why they are likely to be radicalized in engaging in violence and terrorist activities. Members of these communities feel like they are left out and do not want to relate well to law enforcers since they do not trust them. They have a high likelihood of being influenced to join terrorist groups or violence since that is the only way they can express themselves. Law enforcement officers should understand that ethnic groups are highly vulnerable to radicalization due to their social behaviors and ideological beliefs that give them characteristics of supporting conceptual profiles.
Overt steps can be implemented by the department to establish proper relationships with diverse communities to help identify potential terrorist targets and actors. In particular, community members understand various activities, including terrorism, which might be organized by people they know. However, the lack of trusting law enforcers and fear of being victimized by terrorists or criminals make them conceal vital information that can be used to prevent crime or extremism. On that note, some of the steps that can be taken to prevent terrorist activities include enhancing trusting partnerships with diverse communities, engaging all residents in public safety matters, leveraging private and public stakeholders, training law enforcers on how to interact with the public, and utilizing partnerships to counter terrorism and violence (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2014). Law enforcement officers should learn how to interact with community members well. That way, it becomes possible for them to acquire relevant information from the public, which can help to identify potential terrorist actors and targets and neutralize them.
Effective strategies should be implemented to help law enforcers build realistic and functional partnerships with diverse communities to avert terrorism. Lone wolf terrorism and violence have been on the rise in the United States and Europe. For example, Ted Kaczynski injured 23 people and killed 3 within 17 years. Anders Breivik, a Norwegian terrorist, killed 77 individuals in 2011 (Schuurman et al., 2019). The primary thing that law enforcement officers should do to bolster their relationships with the communities is to interact with the public. They should avoid visiting different areas when they are only searching for suspects. Instead, law enforcers need to be friendly to community members and be reachable when needed. In addition, when they get information about organized crime or terrorist activity, they should conceal and protect whistleblowers. The public must trust ...