Police Deployment in Emergency Situations is the central topic of this scientific publication.
Abstract
In their line of work police officers face a large number of emergencies and incidents related to hazardous materials that can be abused as the weapons of mass destruction. Deployment of police officers in cases of terrorist attacks has its specific features, since it is carried out in extreme circumstances with outstanding dangers to life and health. Apart from the emergency medical service and fire and rescue units, the police have a decisive role in the elimination of consequences of such incidents. In these emergency situations, police staff offers primarily assistance to the injured persons, prevents the expansion and elimination of consequences of the emergency situation, and pays considerable attention to the criminal processing of the scene of the incident. Apart from giving the overview of police officers deployment in priority tasks, this paper also gives a comprehensive review of their position in the emergency management system, where the emergency situation has been caused by the abuse of this destructive weapon.
Conclusions
Readiness and preparedness of police officers for reaction to terrorist attacks will be put to the test many times in the forthcoming period. The future brings bigger challenges for police readiness and capability to combat these attacks properly. Conventional weapons easily give way to more lethal descendants. As the most important security service, police must be ready to respond to emergency situations brought about by the abuse of weapons of mass destruction. In order to fulfill all that is expected from it in such situations, police must have developed action procedures, trained staff, and appropriate equipment. Police officers must be trained for work in dangerous environments and understand well their own role at the scene of a terrorist incident. Each police officer has to be ready to identify the indicators of a terrorist attack so that he/she can undertake further operational-tactical measures and actions in an adequate manner. Authorities in charge of strategic planning of police activities should certainly recognize future security requirements and react timely and accordingly.
How to cite
Reference – Mlađan, D., Cvetković, V. (2012). Police Deployment in Emergency Situations Caused by the Abuse of Weapons of Mass Destruction. International Scientific Conference “Archibald Reiss Days” , Belgrade, 1-2 march, 2012. godine.
