Homeland Security
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Source file: 7.04 Homeland Security.pdf. Policy dates appear on the original cover. Page links use the PDF's page order.
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Policy & Procedures No. 7.04
Subject:
Homeland Security
Issuing Authority: Effective Date: Review Date:
Chief of Police 10/01/2012 11/25/2023
References:
Review
Revision 01/03/14 11/15/2022
Reissued 12/05/16
Dates: 09/07/17
11/13/18
12/18/19
11/03/20
CALEA STANDARDS 2.1.4; 11.4.4 ; 46.3.1; 46.32; 46.3.3; 46.3.4
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
Fusion Center Terrorism Tip Hotline: 888-USA-5458 (888-872-5458)
Given the threats of domestic and international terrorism to this nation, the Commonwealth
and the Town of Canton, the employees of this department must be prepared do their part in
the war on terror. Police officers must be vigilant for signs of terrorist activities and be
prepared to address them directly or to report them to the appropriate authority for an
interagency response.
Terrorist acts often appear to be intended to:
• Intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
• Influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
• Affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.
I. POLICY
It is the policy of this department to:
A. Establish procedures for reporting and relaying terrorism-related intelligence or
information; and
B. Provide all employees of this department with awareness level guidelines for events
involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. 46.3.4
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Information:
Facts, observations or claims which are raw, unevaluated and uncorroborated, which are
not yet analyzed against other information or put into context.
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B. Intelligence:
Information that has been processed through an intelligence cycle, has been validated,
analyzed and given meaning.
C. Homeland Security:
A concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, to reduce
America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and to minimize the damage and recover from
attacks that do occur.
D. W.M.D.:
Weapon of Mass Destruction.
III. PROCEDURES
A. Terrorism Intelligence Liaison
The Chief of Police shall be designated as the liaison between the Canton Police
Department and the Commonwealth Fusion Center, as well as other local, state, and
federal agencies and organizations that deal with terrorism-related intelligence,
preparedness planning, and training. 46.3.1 (1A)
The liaison shall: 46.3.1; 2.1.4
1. Coordinate the reporting and distribution of terrorism-related information and
intelligence developed within the department; and
2. Receive, filter and disburse terrorism-related intelligence, bulletins and strategic
assessments from outside sources to affected employees or to owners or operators of
critical infrastructure, as appropriate, and in accordance with intelligence sharing
protocols.
B. Intelligence Sharing Resources
1. Fusion Center 2.1.4; 46.3.2
a. The Commonwealth Fusion Center collects information from all sources for
intelligence purposes in order to keep public safety stakeholders in Massachusetts
informed and prepared. The Fusion Center follows the principles and
recommendations set forth in the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan.
b. Contact Information, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
1) Commonwealth Fusion Center, 124 Acton Street, 2nd Floor, Maynard, MA
01754
2) Phone during business hours: 508-820-2129
3) Phone: 978-451-3700 Fax: 978-451-3707
4) E-mail: fusion@pol.state.ma.us
c. The Fusion Center works to share relevant information and intelligence in a
timely manner with the appropriate public and private sector partners. Access to
certain information is restricted based on a need-to-know, right-to-know basis, as
required by law and the national criminal intelligence standards.
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2. Homeland Security Information Center (HSIN-MA) 2.1.4
a. A website has been created for the Fusion Center by the Department of Homeland
Security, for information sharing among public safety and critical infrastructure
partners in Massachusetts. The information can be accessed by three community
specific portlets:
1) Law Enforcement;
2) General Public Safety; and
3) Critical Infrastructure.
b. Law Enforcement Sensitive information will appear in the Law Enforcement
portlet only.
C. Information Sharing Guidelines
1. Information Sharing Classifications:
a. Unclassified: Dissemination has no restrictions.
b. For Official Use Only (FOUO): Dissemination is restricted to those who have law
enforcement or public safety responsibilities with regard to homeland security, or
to individuals who have a need to know/right to know based on the execution of
their official duties in order to protect the public. This includes critical
infrastructure partners whose position or role gives them a need to know/right to
know.
c. Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES): Dissemination is restricted to law enforcement
only. This may have to do with the conclusions reached by analysts, or may
involve C.O.R.I. or LES information contributed by a third party.
d. Confidential: Information or material the unauthorized disclosure of which could
be reasonably expected to cause damage to the national security that the original
classification authority is able to identify or describe.
e. Secret: Information or material the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably
could be expected to cause serious damage to the national security that the
original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
f. Top Secret: Information or material the unauthorized disclosure of which
reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national
security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
2. Third Party Rule:
Dissemination of information contributed by another agency will be controlled by
that agency. Any third-party dissemination must be approved by that agency.
D. Reporting and Relaying Intelligence and Information 46.3.2
1. Field Personnel
a. Any employee receiving information or intelligence concerning possible terrorist
activities shall immediately notify a supervisor.
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b. The supervisor will determine the appropriate response from the department. This
may include verbal notification of the Chief of Police and other local law
enforcement agencies, the Fusion Center, the Joint Terrorism Task Force or other
appropriate state and federal agencies. 11.4.4
2. Support Personnel:
Managerial, clerical, communications, or other personnel who become aware of
information of possible intelligence value (while reviewing a report, etc.) should
bring the information to the attention of the Chief which ever means possible. He
will then determine the appropriate response from the department.
E. Equipment 46.3.4
1. All equipment utilized shall meet the standard for the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security's Science and Technology Division standards for first responder CBRN
equipment.
2. Current issued equipment (first responders) includes:
a. Hand sanitizer;
b. Latex gloves
c. Gas Masks
F. Department of Homeland Security Color-coded Threat Level System
1. The color-coded threat level system is used to communicate with public safety
officials and the public at-large through a threat-based, color-coded system, so that
protective measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood or impact of an
attack.
2. Raising the threat condition has economic, physical, and psychological effects on the
nation; therefore, the Homeland Security Advisory System can place specific
geographic regions or industry sectors on a higher alert status than other regions or
industries, based on specific threat information.
3. The color-coded threat system has five levels:
a. Red: Severe - Severe risk of terrorist attack;
b. Orange: High - High risk of terrorist attack;
c. Yellow: Elevated - Significant risk of terrorist attack;
d. Blue: Guarded - General risk of terrorist attack; and
e. Green: Low - Low risk of terrorist attack.
G. Hazardous Materials Awareness and Response 46.3.4
1. Generally
a. A responder must resist the urge to “rush in” to the scene and risk becoming a
casualty. Others cannot be helped until the situation has been fully assessed.
b. Do not walk into or touch the spilled material.
c. Avoid inhaling fumes, smoke or vapors.
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d. A hazardous materials response is a multidisciplinary response involving police,
fire and other government agencies and private entities. Police responders shall
coordinate their efforts with other responding entities to support the response
effort. The senior fire official will generally be the incident commander.
2. Police Response
a. It is best to assess the scene from an upwind direction.
b. Before approaching the scene of a hazardous materials incident, responders must
stop and assess the situation from a distance. Try to identify the material by:
1) Having persons involved with the material approach the responder; and
2) Reading placards on vehicles using binoculars.
c. Report the situation and the material to the Fire Department.
d. Hazards and risks of hazardous materials, and the appropriate response and
precautions, may be determined through the use of the Hazardous Materials
Emergency Response Guide booklet.
e. Consider the following:
1) Is there a fire, leak or spill?
2) What is the wind speed and direction?
3) What are the weather conditions?
4) What is the terrain?
5) Are there risks to people, property, and environment?
6) What can be done immediately?
f. Set up an appropriate perimeter, isolate the area, and ensure the safety of persons
in the hazard area. Such actions may include:
1) Shelter in place; or
2) Evacuate.
g. Address pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
h. Provide support for those personnel trained for and tasked with addressing the
hazardous material.
3. All Hazards Plan: For further information, see Department Policy#7.01: All Hazards.
H. Public Terrorism Awareness Education: 46.3.3
The Canton Police Department shall make terrorism awareness information available to the
public using the following methods:
1. Public speaking engagements upon request;
2. Information and links on the department web site; and
3. Informational pamphlets.
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IV. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AWARENESS LEVEL GUIDELINES 46.3.4
A. Chemical Weapons Awareness Level Guidelines 46.3.4
1. Generally
a. Chemical agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids, and solids that have toxic
effects on people, animals, or plants. They can be released by bombs or sprayed
from aircraft, boats, and vehicles. They can be used as a liquid to create a hazard
to people and the environment. Some chemical agents may be odorless and
tasteless. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or
a delayed effect (two to forty-eight hours).
b. While potentially lethal, chemical agents are difficult to deliver in lethal
concentrations. Outdoors, the agents often dissipate rapidly. Chemical agents also
are difficult to produce.
c. A chemical attack could come without warning. Signs of a chemical release
include people having difficulty breathing; experiencing eye irritation; losing
coordination; becoming nauseated; or having a burning sensation in the nose,
throat, and lungs. Also, the presence of many dead insects or birds may indicate a
chemical agent release.
2. Decontamination guidelines:
a. Decontamination is needed within minutes of exposure to minimize health
consequences. A person affected by a chemical agent requires immediate medical
attention from a professional. If medical help is not immediately available,
decontaminate yourself and assist in decontaminating others.
b. Use extreme caution when helping others who have been exposed to chemical
agents. When possible:
1) Remove all clothing and other items in contact with the body.
a) Contaminated clothing normally removed over the head should be cut off
to avoid contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth.
b) Put contaminated clothing and items into a plastic bag and seal it.
Decontaminate hands using soap and water.
c) Remove eyeglasses or contact lenses. Put glasses in a pan of household
bleach to decontaminate them and then rinse and dry.
2) Flush eyes with water.
3) Gently wash face and hair with soap and water before thoroughly rinsing with
water.
4) Decontaminate other body areas likely to have been contaminated. Blot (do
not swab or scrape) with a cloth soaked in soapy water, and rinse with clear
water.
5) Change into uncontaminated clothes. Clothing stored in drawers or closets is
likely to be uncontaminated.
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6) Proceed to a medical facility for screening and professional treatment but do
not enter the facility without being screened for further decontamination.
The presence of a contaminated person in the medical facility may cause the
facility to have to cease operation for decontamination.
B. Biological Weapons Awareness Level Guidelines 46.3.4
1. Generally
a. Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people,
livestock, and crops. The three basic groups of biological agents that would likely
be used as weapons are:
1) Bacteria;
2) Viruses; and
3) Toxins.
b. Most biological agents are difficult to grow and maintain. Many break down
quickly when exposed to sunlight and other environmental factors, while others,
such as anthrax spores, are very long lived.
c. Biological agents can be dispersed by spraying them into the air, by infecting
animals that carry the disease to humans and by contaminating food and water.
Delivery methods include:
1) Aerosols: biological agents are dispersed into the air, forming a fine mist that
may drift for miles. Inhaling the agent may cause disease in people or animals.
2) Animals: some diseases are spread by insects and animals, such as fleas, mice,
flies, mosquitoes, and livestock.
3) Food and Water Contamination: some pathogenic organisms and toxins may
persist in food and water supplies. Most microbes can be killed, and toxins
deactivated, by cooking food and boiling water. Most microbes are killed by
boiling water for one minute, but some require longer boiling. Follow official
instructions.
4) Person-to-person: spread of a few infectious agents is also possible. Humans
have been the source of infection for smallpox, bubonic plague, and the Lassa
viruses.
2. Response:
If you become aware of an unusual and suspicious substance nearby:
a. Move away quickly;
b. Contact dispatch and report the incident;
c. When possible, wash with soap and water; and
d. Seek medical attention if you become sick.
3. Exposure:
If you are exposed to a biological agent:
a. When possible, remove and bag your clothes and personal items. Follow official
instructions for disposal of contaminated items.
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b. When possible: Wash yourself with soap and water and put on clean clothes.
c. Seek medical assistance.
1) You may be advised to stay away from others or even quarantined.
2) If you believe you have recently been exposed to a biological weapons agent,
do not enter a medical facility without being screened for further
decontamination. The presence of a contaminated person in the medical
facility may cause the facility to have to cease operation for decontamination.
C. Radiological Weapons Employee Awareness 46.3.4
1. Generally
a. Terrorist use of a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD) (often called "dirty
nuke" or "dirty bomb") is considered far more likely than use of a nuclear
explosive device. An RDD combines a conventional explosive device, such as a
bomb, with radioactive material. It is designed to scatter dangerous and sub-lethal
amounts of radioactive material over a general area.
b. Such RDDs appeal to terrorists because they require limited technical knowledge
to build and deploy, compared to a nuclear device. Also, the radioactive materials
in RDDs are widely used in medicine, agriculture, industry, and research, and are
easier to obtain than weapons grade uranium or plutonium.
c. The primary purpose of terrorist use of an RDD is to cause psychological fear and
economic disruption.
d. Some devices could cause fatalities from exposure to radioactive materials.
Depending on the speed at which the area of the RDD detonation was evacuated
or how successful people were at sheltering-in-place, the number of deaths and
injuries from an RDD might not be substantially greater than from a conventional
bomb explosion.
e. The size of the affected area and the level of destruction caused by an RDD would
depend on the sophistication and size of the conventional bomb, the type of
radioactive material used, the quality and quantity of the radioactive material, and
the local meteorological conditions, primarily wind and precipitation. The area
affected could be placed off-limits to the public for several months during cleanup
efforts.
2. Reaction
a. While the explosive blast will be immediately obvious, the presence of radiation
will not be known until trained personnel with specialized equipment are on the
scene. It would be safer to assume radiological contamination has occurred,
particularly in an urban setting or near other likely terrorist targets, and take the
proper precautions.
b. As with any radiation, avoid or limit exposure. This is particularly true of inhaling
radioactive dust that results from the explosion. As you seek shelter from any
location (indoors or outdoors) and visible dust or other contaminants are in the air,
breathe though the cloth of your shirt or coat to limit your exposure. If you
manage to avoid breathing radioactive dust, your proximity to the radioactive
particles may still result in some radiation exposure.
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c. If the explosion or radiological release occurs inside, get out immediately and
seek safe shelter.
d. Contamination from an RDD event could affect a wide area, depending on the
number of conventional explosives used, the quantity and type of radioactive
material released, and meteorological conditions. Thus, radiation dissipation rates
vary, but radiation from an RDD will likely take longer to dissipate due to a
potentially larger localized concentration of radioactive material.
D. Nuclear Weapons Awareness Level Guidelines 46.3.4
1. Generally
a. A nuclear blast is an explosion with intense light and heat, a damaging pressure
wave, and widespread radioactive material that can contaminate the air, water,
and ground surfaces for miles around.
b. A nuclear device can range from a weapon carried by an intercontinental missile
launched by a hostile nation or terrorist organization, to a small portable nuclear
device transported by an individual.
c. All nuclear devices cause deadly effects when exploded, including blinding light,
intense heat (thermal radiation), initial nuclear radiation, blast, fires started by the
heat pulse, and secondary fires caused by the destruction.
2. Hazards of Nuclear Devices:
The extent, nature, and arrival time of these hazards are difficult to predict. The geographical
dispersion of hazard effects will be defined by the following:
a. Size of the device: a more powerful bomb will produce more distant effects.
b. Height above the ground the device was detonated: this will determine the extent
of blast effects.
c. Nature of the surface beneath the explosion: some materials are more likely to
become radioactive and airborne than others. Flat areas are more susceptible to
blast effects.
d. Existing meteorological conditions: wind speed and direction will affect arrival
time of fallout; precipitation may wash fallout from the atmosphere.
3. Radioactive Fallout:
Even if individuals are not close enough to the nuclear blast to be affected by the
direct impact, they may be affected by radioactive fallout. Any nuclear blast results in
some fallout. Blasts that occur near the earth's surface create much greater amounts of
fallout than blasts that occur at higher altitudes. This is because the tremendous heat
produced from a nuclear blast causes an up-draft of air that forms the familiar
mushroom cloud.
a. When a blast occurs near the earth's surface, millions of vaporized dirt particles
are also drawn into the cloud. As the heat diminishes, radioactive materials that
have vaporized condense on the particles and fall back to Earth. The phenomenon
is called radioactive fallout. This fallout material decays over a long period of
time, and it is the main source of residual nuclear radiation.
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b. Fallout from a nuclear explosion may be carried by wind currents for hundreds of
miles if the right conditions exist. Effects from even a small portable device
exploded at ground level can be potentially deadly.
c. Nuclear radiation cannot be seen, smelled, or otherwise detected by normal
senses. Radiation can only be detected by radiation monitoring devices. This
makes radiological emergencies different from other types of emergencies, such
as floods or hurricanes.
d. Monitoring can project the fallout arrival times, which will be announced through
official warning channels. However, any increase in surface build-up of gritty
dust and dirt should be a warning for taking protective measures.
4. Electromagnetic Pulse
a. In addition to other effects, a nuclear weapon detonated in or above the earth's
atmosphere can create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electrical
field. An EMP acts like a stroke of lightning but is stronger, faster, and shorter.
An EMP can seriously damage electronic devices connected to power sources or
antennas. This includes communication systems, computers, electrical appliances,
and automobile or aircraft ignition systems. The damage could range from a
minor interruption to actual burnout of components.
b. Most electronic equipment within 1,000 miles of a high-altitude nuclear
detonation could be affected. Battery-powered radios with short antennas
generally would not be affected. Although an EMP is unlikely to harm most
people, it could harm those with pacemakers or other implanted electronic
devices.
5. Reaction
a. The three factors for protecting oneself from radiation and fallout are distance,
shielding, and time.
1) Distance: the more distance between you and the fallout particles, the better.
An underground area such as a home or office building basement offers more
protection than the first floor of a building. A floor near the middle of a high-
rise may be better, depending on what is nearby at that level on which
significant fallout particles would collect. Flat roofs collect fallout particles,
so the top floor is not a good choice, nor is a floor adjacent to a neighboring
flat roof.
2) Shielding: the heavier and denser the materials, such as thick walls, concrete,
bricks, books and earth, between you and the fallout particles, the better.
3) Time: fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly rapidly. In time, you will be
able to leave the fallout shelter. Radioactive fallout poses the greatest threat to
people during the first two weeks, by which time it has declined to about one
percent of its initial radiation level.
4) Remember that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all,
and the more shielding, distance, and time you can take advantage of, the
better.
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b. Take cover as quickly as you can, below ground if possible, and stay there until
instructed to do otherwise. Distance and shielding are defenses against a nuclear
blast.
c. Listen for official information and follow instructions.
d. Do not look at the flash or fireball; it can blind you.
e. Take cover behind anything that might offer protection.
f. Lie flat on the ground and cover your head. If the explosion is some distance
away, it could take thirty (30) seconds or more for the blast wave to hit.
g. Take shelter as soon as you can, even if you are many miles from ground zero
where the attack occurred.
h. Cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth. The danger from fallout is greatest
from contaminated particles you may breathe into your lungs. Radioactive fallout
can be carried by the winds for hundreds of miles. Remember the three protective
factors: distance, shielding, and time.
i. Decay rates of the radioactive fallout are the same for any size nuclear device.
However, the amount of fallout will vary based on the size of the device and its
proximity to the ground. Therefore, it might be necessary for those in the areas
with highest radiation levels to shelter for up to a month.
j. The heaviest fallout would be limited to the area at or downwind from the
explosion, and eighty (80) percent of the fallout would occur during the first
twenty-four hours.
k. People in most of the areas that would be affected could be allowed to come out
of shelter within a few days and, if necessary, evacuate to unaffected areas.
6. Risks
a. The danger of a massive strategic nuclear attack on the United States is predicted
by experts to be less likely today. However, terrorism, by nature, is unpredictable.
b. If there were the threat of an attack, people living near potential targets could be
advised to evacuate, or they could decide on their own to evacuate to an area not
considered a likely target. Protection from radioactive fallout would require
taking shelter in an underground area or in the middle of a large building.
c. In general, potential targets include:
1) Strategic missile sites and military bases;
2) Centers of government;
3) Important transportation and communication centers;
4) Manufacturing, industrial, technology, and financial centers;
5) Petroleum refineries, electrical power plants, and chemical plants; and
6) Major ports and airfields.
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