December 7, 2003 marked the sixty-second anniversary of the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor.  As a result of this event in 1941, many persons of Japanese ancestry were required to report for evacuation to "Assembly Centers" and were then transported to "War Relocation Camps." 

At that time, the FBI and military compiled lists of what they thought to be potentially dangerous or subversive Japanese Americans. The Immigration Act of 1924 virtually forbade Japanese immigration and extension of American citizenship, and gave the authority to arrest suspects as "enemy aliens."

On September 11th, 2001, Americans again faced the reality that we are not immune from terrorist violence on our own soil. A series of airline hijackings, resulted in "bombings;" two started an inferno and collapsed a major office landmark and surrounding businesses in one of the World's greatest cities and a third seriously damaged the Pentagon. The final hijacked airplane crashed 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, never reaching its intended target at the Nation's Capital after heroic acts of its crews and passengers.

One month later, Congress enacted the Patriot Act in October of 2001. Like the "War Relocation Strategy" and the Immigration Act during World War II, the goal of the Patriot Act was to unite and strengthen the country.  However the Patriot Act focused on providing tools to intercept and obstruct acts of terrorism rather than re-locating suspected individuals.

Specifically, the law gives controversial new powers to the Justice Department in terms of domestic and international surveillance of American citizens and others within its jurisdiction.  

Now its is up to each agency to design its own surveillance and communication procedures to reduce vulnerabilities to terrorist threats.

For Fairfax County Sheriffs Office, this begins with educating professionals within the field in the many facets of terrorism and its effects.

Anti-Terrorism Training

As a Virginia State Certified Instructor, Lt. Gary Cornelius of the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office in Fairfax, Virginia has definite ideas on the shape a training program should take.  "I believe that all Correctional Officers should get training on anti terrorist techniques and evacuation as every government building is a potential target," begins Cornelius.

Indeed, Cornelius believes this type of training should be required for all staff, be it custody or treatment staff, food service handlers or even volunteers. "Anyone, I mean anyone, walking through a government complex can be another set of eyes and ears. 

Cornelius, who is a certified Virginia State Instructor Certification, an adjunct instructor at George Mason University, a trainer for the American Correctional Association, and teaches corrections issues at two training academies in Virginia, started his law enforcement career as a United States Secret Service Uniformed Officer in 1974.

Today he uses his unique law enforcement background to teach anti terrorism training that he says, focuses on sharpening the day-to day-awareness skills that will improve the staff's emergency responsiveness.  Some of the skills learned include Improved Observation and Use of Authority.

Keen Observation

"Observation and knowing what to look for are essential training elements," says Cornelius who explains that when it comes to observation staff should "keep it simple -- look for things out of place such as a car left in a no parking zone, a person taking photographs of a building who appears jumpy or nervous, or a person wearing bulky clothes on a warm day."

At Fairfax County, staff is taught to heighten their awareness of inmate property.  How many types of ID are found on one individual?  Is the inmate carrying a significant amount of cash but indicates unemployment?  Has a camera or a pair of binoculars been placed into the inmate's property yet he or she is not a tourist?  Are notes and observations found on the arrestee? Was the individual arrested near a potential target?  What was the person doing in the area?  What kind of literature were they carrying?

"If you see someone on the property without proper identification, you should immediately ask, Can I help you?" says Cornelius.

"This is known as the 'helpful challenge' and it is one of the primary, common sense steps in heightening security."

Using Authority

According to Cornelius one of the best tools in the law enforcement arsenal is the simple use of the authority. 

He explains that staff should observe the nervous person.  Challenge him or her.  Use your communications.  Call for backup.  Let people see that you all work as a part of the same trained team.  "The terrorist does not want you to be nosy," says Cornelius, "so that is why you have to be nosy." 

The Fairfax training program encourages staff to let them know if they see something unusual.  "I tell them two things:  trust your 'gut' and do not hesitate to tell staff that something needs to be checked out," says Cornelius.

"My job is a programs director", he says.  "But I also am a deputy sheriff who has a responsibility for public, staff and inmate safety.  I can get on the radio just like the street police officer and call a suspicious package in.  I am duty bound to do that."

So when it comes to dealing with terrorism, Cornelius tells his classroom trainees to never forget these 3 simple rules:

1. Nothing is beyond the imagination of the terrorist.

2. Terrorists plan their acts and may run a type of rehearsal: testing responses of officers and seeing how alert officers are.   These rehearsals could be just placing a briefcase in a place and seeing what if any response happens.  If nothing happens or procedures are sloppy, the terrorist may think that this could be a good target.

3. Finally, officers have the authority to be nosy.  Terrorists are banking on complacency knowing that security may be boring at times where nothing happens. 

"I would rather be a little bored, but nosy," Cornelius exerts, "than risk the excitement of a bombing." 

Cornelius also warns that suspected terrorists are going to do whatever they can to appear "normal" and pro U.S.  "The 19 hijackers lived and functioned in this country with only a few people noticing them because they blended in," he says. 

This warning was reiterated by Dr. John Byrnes, published author, President and Founder of the Center for Aggression Management who agrees that terrorist aggression can go virtually undetected until it is too late.

"One of the unique factors surrounding terrorist activity is that no one observes aggression before a violent act occurs," explains Dr. Byrnes.

According to Byrnes the best way to prevent terrorism is to be able to measure the aggression that leads up to it. This Byrnes refers to as "cognitive aggression."

According to Byrnes, there are three phases to aggression that can be easily observed:
1. The Trigger Phase
2. The Escalation Phase, and
3. The Crisis Phase.

Each of us experiences events that trigger some form of anxiety, but most individuals can cope.  For the individual who can no longer cope, these events may escalate (phase 2) and may mount into crisis (phase 3) where a harmful action is taken.  The ultimate aggression may be Primal or Cognitive.

Primal Aggression, explains Byrnes is fueled by adrenaline - someone striking out and hitting a person. Cognitive Aggression is more conscious, more deliberate, fueled by intent - such as a terrorist who's intent it is to instill terror in his victims.

Inspired by a quote from Dr. Edward Deming who stated, "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it," Dr Byrnes has developed a unique measurement index to measure this cognitive aggression.  This index includes nine stages within the cognitive aggression continuum which can be used to identify a terrorist." 

The first stage involves hardening one's attitude and building aggressive intent.  In stage four the individual begins "Planting the Seeds of Distrust." 

"For example, you live in a community, have been a member for some time, you like your neighbors, and they like you," begins Dr. Byrnes. "Someone new comes along and begins talking to your neighbors and plants the seeds through comments such as "I don't trust that person" or "I'm not sure why you like him or her, I don't."

The seeds planted in stage four, can carry into the final stage, nine, which is labeled as "Plunging together into the abyss."  This according to Byrnes is when the terrorist act occurs.

Byrnes hopes his measurement index will be useful in helping correctional and other law enforcement officers identify aggression that leads to terrorism. 

"Whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or locally in workplaces or our schools, aggression is something that we must get our arms around and vanquish. All Americans, young and old alike, should have the right to feel safe when they go to work or to school," says Byrnes.

Advice for Other Agencies

When asked what advice these experts have for other agencies looking to provide anti terrorism training Cornelius warns to "get good training. Don't just "memo" it out. Hold meeting and seminars.  Have scenarios.  Have drills."

He also suggests that agencies take advantage of resources like the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.  "See what materials they have to offer before you get started on your own training program," he adds.

Interagency agreements and contingency plans are also critical components of the training according to Cornelius.  "You have to plan ahead and determine --Who will respond?  How do we evacuate?  Where will we go?   Who will take the inmates if a jail is bombed?  How will they be fed, counted, secured?" asks Cornelius.  "These are all points that should be included in a contingency plan."

Some agencies like those in Central Florida have created specialized training for mass destruction based on unique facility needs.

"The diversity found on college campuses, water treatment plants and courthouses all warrant observation as they hold potential as terrorist targets," says Lt. Art King who oversees his department's special projects in Central Florida.

"So all of the local small agencies came together shortly after September 11th to receive additional training in areas such as weapons of mass destruction and creating unified commands," he says noting that "we're better prepared through awareness and training should another event occur." 

This is level of interest, training and prevention that Cornelius and Byrnes each hope to see in every correctional agency across the nation. 

"The key to creating safer communities and preventing further travesties," says Byrnes "lies in the prevention of terrorist acts rather than reacting to it.

Sources:
John D. Byrnes, D.Hum.
Center for Aggression Management
Phone: 407-646-6920
Toll Free: 866-384-9123
Email: DrJohnByrnes@AggressionManagement.com
Web Site: www.AggressionManagement.com

Lt. Gary Cornelius
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office
Email: adjinstuctor@aol.com

Lt. Art King
Winter Park Police Department
(407) 644-1313