Counterterrorism in Small Town USA
When law enforcement or the general population think of terrorism, they usually expect to see tragedy strike in large cities, such as New York, Los Angeles or Boston—local concerns would turn toward Louisville, Lexington or Bowling Green—with concerns focused on events such as the Kentucky Derby, music festivals, malls or popular sporting activities.
However, rural America and Kentucky towns should not count themselves exempt from the reaches of terrorists. Instead, these areas carry risks of their own—though vastly different from their urban neighbors, they are nonetheless present with dangers and potential outcomes. Yet, there are steps, trainings and partnerships that can make detection and mitigation easier for local law enforcement officers protecting their communities.
The Big and Small of It
While rural terrorism is often an afterthought in most people’s minds, the rolling hills and vast crop fields are not outside the reaches of nefarious intentions.
“America is the world’s breadbasket,” said Josiah Keats, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS) executive director. “We feed the world. So there are several different major vulnerabilities that would have large-reaching implications.”
Risks include bioterrorism that would threaten crops, threats to the food supply chain or roads, bridges or waterways used to transport goods, and foreign species brought in without inspection.
“One of the cruxes to maintaining a stable society is food security,” Keats continued. “America’s farmland is rural America.”
Additionally, rural areas provide organized domestic terrorists opportunity to perform physical and tactical training in fields, Keats noted.
“A lot is opportunity,” added Paul Kinkade, a Department of Criminal Justice Training instructor with nearly 23 years of law enforcement experience.
He noted that rural areas could also be home to chemical companies, military bases and other potential targets. Moreover, small-town America has its own large events, such as festivals and church gatherings, and law enforcement should be aware of soft spots within their region.
Agencies should also consider the various modes of terrorism ranging from chemical to industrial and homemade explosives, biological agents, etc.
According to Kinkade, social media should not be overlooked as a tool utilized by terrorists, as gaming systems and various apps have become less traceable modes of communication for those wishing to do harm.
Awareness and Threat Level
One of the benefits small-town law enforcement agencies have is that most living within their communities know each other and keep a very vigilant eye on the normal pace of life around them, said Keats. Those same individuals are usually very willing to say something if they see something, making it much harder for entities, especially foreign ones, with terror on their minds to find opportunities.
“You want to look for people that don’t fit or appear suspicious,” Kinkade advised law enforcement. “I realize the term suspicious is subjective, but (look for) people hanging out at places they aren’t supposed to or (if you) have unusual surveillance.”
“Threat level is under constant evaluation,” Keats added. “Part of the (purpose) of the (Kentucky Intelligence) Fusion Center (operated through KOHS) is to feed the federal assessment tools for evaluating threat. It’s a two-way communication street. We work with federal Homeland Security daily.”
When KOHS has gained information that an area is vulnerable, they notify local law enforcement, just as local agencies report suspicions for research and assistance to the state agency.
Officer Safety
“One of the things officers don’t think about (regarding) their own personal safety is their online hygiene. As a (former) federal agent, I had a couple of instances where my work literally followed me to my house,” Keats said. “So I would caution officers to be very aware of their online presence. If they are involved in a sensitive investigation that could have ramifications for their home life (they should) scrub what they have forward facing and accessible like locations and photos of family members.”
Additionally, as much personal protective equipment (PPE) as possible should be on hand for investigating officers, Kinkade said. He also noted that full protective suits are incredibly expensive but some PPE is better than none.
Training and Resources
Many resources are available to agencies across the state and country regarding counterterrorism training. However, due to the current global pandemic, some courses may have been changed or postponed.
Along with offerings from DOCJT, Keats added that KOHS provides an Intelligence Officer Liaison course. Additional resources include the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Additionally, agencies should be aware they can apply for counterterrorism funding through the KOHS grant program.
Reporting
Reporting potential terrorist threats to the KOHS Fusion Center is incredibly important. Keats said law enforcement has access to direct personnel lines.
”The fear is that as soon as we let our guard down, something is going to happen,” said Kinkade. “If an officer comes across (something suspicious), they can fill out a suspicious activity report to Fusion Center… if it turns out to be nothing great. I would rather it turn out to be nothing. But (just in case), I would like to see it investigated.”
Civilians may report tips to (866) 393-6659 or on the KOHS webpage.
For more information, visit The Fusion Center which also monitors the Kentucky School Safety tip line.
