Terrorists would generally prefer to attack critical targets, several of which exist in nearly any city or county. You, as a lieutenant in your local police agency, have been assigned to your county-wide fusion center. The captain who oversees the unit informs you that your first task is to help identify all critical targets in your city or county. Using your city or county as the area you are reporting on, answer these questions: 

• What structures in your county or city do you feel should be listed as critical targets? Why? What makes them a target?
• Might local politics come into play when developing this list, especially if someone’s business is (or is not) included? If so, how will you deal with it?
• What should your fusion center do once your list is compiled?

Needs bad and good of post, list reference, our discussion first then individuals response

The biggest factors of terroristic threat are the John Martin Reservoir, Highway 287, 385, 50, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad system.  The secondary factors that could be damaged by terrorists are the pipelines, feedlots, and the electrical stations.

The first three lists including the dam, highways, and railways would be a target because they are a crucial part of commerce as well as the potential to cause extreme problems, loss of life, and inconvenience with very little effort.  The secondary factors would interrupt commerce, but also interrupt food sources and factory production.

Local politics has come into play during times, like the July 4, 2015 holiday, when the terroristic threat level was high.  This increased threat level can decrease the access of citizens to these facilities.  This is mostly based on an entertainment level, but inconvenience is not tolerated well by the local resident.  The local politics should be protecting the agriculture industry as it is the predominant source of income for this area.  If protection of these assets should interrupt the agriculture’s access or ability to produce, then there would be a big issue.  Alternate access would have to be made to these resources as it would limit their production.  Education and information regarding the problem would assist most with dealing with the limited access.  The responsible agency could join the local Joint Terrorism Task Force which is a fusion center (Peak, 2012).  The fusion center can advise of local threats and the assessed risk of a terroristic activity.  The fusion center can also relay developed information to the appropriate agency.  The best analysis should be completed so as to provide the best links to any national resource or target.  This would best be completed by shipping the information to the FBI for expert analysis (Peak, 2012).

Peak, K. J. (2012). Policing America: Challenges and Best Practices. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.

"Looking for a Similar Assignment? Get Expert Help at an Amazing Discount!"