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