CWA Police Roll Out Anti-Terrorism Training

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon left searing scars on the memory of every American. Subsequent attacks deploying anthrax and ricin through the mail and news of terrorist bombings abroad have made people feel even more vulnerable. Yet the government has been slow to provide training for police, firefighters and others who are the first to respond in such emergencies.

CWA passed a resolution at its 2003 convention calling for increased training for first responders. The union's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers, working with ALERT (Anti-Terrorism Law Enforce-ment Response Training), has taken the lead in formulating a program. Now the push is on, with pending legislation, possible OSHA funding and outreach to CWA locals and employers.

"Since the horrific events of 9/11 a question most asked is whether we as a nation are as prepared as we can be to fight terrorism at home," said Bill Hemby, a retired San Francisco police sergeant and chief lobbyist for the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs/CWA Local 9111. "Public safety officers within CWA feel the answer is no."

Hemby said that "While billions of dollars have been spent on homeland security, little is being done to address the education, training, equipping and communications for local police and at-risk institutions at home. That's why we are striving to make this program available to our police agencies, CWA locals and employers."

ALERT, developed by Hemby and COPS, put more than 500 officers from 65 California police departments through anti-terrorism training classes within 60 days of 9/11.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has introduced a bill to make $50 million available through grants to nonprofit organizations to provide first responder training and $300 million in grants to states, local government and police and fire departments to buy equipment and improve communications systems.

NCPSO is undertaking a survey of states to assess their needs for terrorist training and its members will appear publicly with Boxer to help secure co-sponsors for the legislation, NCPSO Director John Burpo said.

The bill, now in the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, would also require the secretary of Homeland Security to establish a toll-free hotline for local governments and nonprofit organizations to get information regarding all federal grant programs that make funds available for training first responders and for terrorism preparedness.

The ALERT program is uniquely poised to take advantage of such funding. Its team of experts led by Harry Humphries, a former Navy SEAL who lectures about modern law enforcement techniques, teaches a one-day seminar on:

• The recent history of terrorism and a realistic approach to the actual threat;
  
  
• Identifying terrorists and their methods of operation;
  
  
• Conventional weapons of choice among terrorists, including explosives, homemade devices, weapons readily available on the open market;
  
  
• Patrol procedures and what first responders should be looking for;
  
  
• Understanding wind anomalies and urban structures, and how to avoid hazardous plumes of gas and biological agents;
  
  
• Incapacitating and toxic chemical agents, biological agents, toxic materials available in any city;
  
  
• Nuclear and radiological weapons of mass destruction; and
  
  
• How first responders can protect themselves, their partners and the public.

Humphries' experience includes 200 combat missions. He has advised the Navy's Phoenix Program counter-terrorist units and consulted on "Blackhawk Down," the movie about the downing of a military helicopter in Mogadishu.

ALERT will help interested locals or CWA employers write grant proposals and apply for funding for the seminar.

In addition, CWA Health and Safety Director David LeGrande said the union is exploring the possibility of funding from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to sponsor the seminar for employers to help them develop emergency response plans.

"ALERT is ready to roll," Local 9111 President Monty Holden said. "Its mission is to provide training whenever and wherever necessary. As a private foundation, it can fashion public/private partnerships with corporations within the CWA family."

For more information, visit the ALERT website at www.anti-terrorist.org.