ELECTRONIC SECURITY OF CRITICAL SITES RELATING TO
HOMELAND DEFENSE
By Brian M. Jones
Homeland Defense Due to events of 9/11/01, Homeland Defense
was formed quickly to address concerns of security at critical sites
Comprised of officers to safeguard facilities such as power plants and water treatment facilities
Each facility guarded by two officers seven days a week from hours of 8pm-6am
Other “soft targets” monitored by “rover units”
Problems with HD: Identify HD formed too quickly to adequately train
officers to secure critical sites Many sites too large to secure with only two
officers Because of no activity, officers became
susceptible to fatigue, boredom; often fell asleep
Rover units unable to adequately secure “soft targets”, as they were only checked periodically during the night
Problems with HD: Identify Officers felt as if they were “highly paid
security guards”, not professional officers Vacation not available; forced to use sick
time Because many officers taken from patrol,
shifts left shorthanded Added to the existing problem of increased
response time
Homeland Defense: Analyze – Why do they apply?
Job Design-officers need training to understand role and perform duties
Skill Variety-high growth need officers sit in car all night with no activity
Task Identity-no clearly defined role Task Significance-officer does not believe
his/her function is important to the goal Equity-officers taken from patrol feel slighted;
feel other officers performing “real police work”
Homeland Defense: Analyze – Why do they apply?
Expectancy-”If I try, can I perform well”; officers feel no effort involved in watching facility
Instrumentality-good job does not result in reward; officers feel stuck in HD, no vacation
Valence-no intrinsic value in job well done Cohesion-officers see no link between
themselves and patrol; no interaction
Homeland Defense: Action Plan
Install electronic security/surveillance equipment that would adequately observe facility without the use of manned personnel
Use HD officers for other purposes LCRA model as an example
Sensormatic Speedome Ultra VI
State of the art dome with wide dynamic range,continuous autofocus, high speed pan/tilt capabilities
Infrared mode Alarm capability Able to be operated
through cable lines
16 channel power supply needed to operate camerasCost: $5000, including installation
INTELLEX DV16000 Intelligent Digital
Recorder Combines
multiplexing, recording, alarm/event detection
Records up to 16 cameras at once
With software, can provide DVD video clips to police
Would eliminate VCR, multiplexer, and motion detector in traditional systemsCost: $8000
AD 2088 Controller Variable speed
functions Twist-to-zoom
joystick for pan/tilt/zoom control of cameras
Alarm feature that sounds when cameras detect breech in security
Cost: $1500
AD 9421 Monitor High performance, 21
inch, color monitor Able to view 8 to 16
cameras at one time Cost: $600
Equipment Need For Facility Security
Example of large site such as Holly Street Power Plant or Ulrich water treatment facility
32 Sensormatic Speedome Ultra VI cameras 2 multi channel power supplies
Equipment Needed For Dispatch/Monitoring Station
2 Intellex DV 16000 recording platforms 2 AD 9421 color monitors 1 AD 2088 controller Station can be installed at alternate location
Total Cost Of Equipment 32 cameras 2 multi channel power supplies 2 recording platforms 2 color monitors 1 camera controller Total cost of equipment = $179,300
Cost For Police Personnel Based on APD pay scale, 2 year officer receives
$46,750 per year Does not include cost of police vehicle and its
maintenance Does not include overtime paid to an officer
working at facility when normally assigned officer is on vacation or sick
Figure is variable, due to fact that senior officers receive higher salary
Total cost for 4 officers securing facility 7 days a week for one year: $187,000
Action Plan Because vast majority of HD officers no longer
required, most could be sent back to patrol This would help alleviate problem of increased
response time Officers left on HD Unit could be available to
answer calls to facility Officers could receive training to be first
responders Could involve training with hazardous materials
teams, containment of area, rapid response
Action Plan Vertical loading of new responsibilities would
address equity and expectancy issues Due to adequate training, and a clear objective,
increased instrumentality would be achieved Increased expectancy achieved with confidence
that sites are adequately secured without valued manpower
Job redesign: while not tending to needs of facility, could be allowed to serve as backup for patrol on traffic stops and non-priority calls
Action Plan Combining of tasks would increase skill
variety, task significance, and autonomy Would also assist in decreasing response
time Strategy would facilitate cohesion between
HD officers and patrol Civil Defense personnel could be used to
monitor surveillance system and call police to scene of facility if needed
Homeland Defense: Assess Supervisors of HD Unit can be surveyed as to
morale of officers Rate of vacation and sick time can be
analyzed to see if officers are appearing for work on regular basis
Response time can be assessed to see if a reduction has been achieved
Personnel monitoring surveillance equipment can be conferred with to determine if equipment is working adequately and viewing facility properly