Full Text
AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY Information sharing and situational awareness are integral components of securing our country, our state, and our community. With that in mind, you should be aware of a program designed not just for firefighters or pre-hospital care providers, but for all New Yorkers. SAFEGUARD NEW YORK is an important program partnering community members, businesses and emergency service professionals like you to work together to alert members of state and local law enforcement to suspicious activities and potential acts of terrorism. You are our eyes and ears on the ground, on the streets, going to the grocery stores, in the mall, being citizens; you can help us to fulfill our public safety responsibilities. Early recognition and reporting of potential terrorist activity can serve as the first line of defense against those who commit acts of terrorism. If you witness anything suspicious, you are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement or the New York State Terrorism Tips line at 1-866-SAFE-NYS (1-866- 723-3697). There are eight signs of terrorism that all citizens should be aware of, especially first responders. As part of a fire company or ambulance service responding to emergency scenes on a daily basis, you may be the first to notice a pattern of activity suggestive of a terrorist plot, and yours may be the only call to alert law enforcement before an incident happens. Like all emergency service providers, you have a sense of call patterns, and when something doesn’t feel right you know it. As emergency service professionals, you should be aware there is a concern that individuals seeking to commit acts of terrorism may utilize emergency service organizations to acquire certain materials, skills, or training in order to succeed with their intentions. These individuals may also target first responders; or they may pose as emergency services personnel in order to access certain locations and appear to belong. For the safety of yourselves, your partners, and your fellow citizens, your continued vigilance is essential. Again, any signs of suspicious activity may be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the New York State Terrorism Tips Hotline at 1-[PHONE REDACTED] (1-866- SAFE-NYS). “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!” Report Any Suspicious Activity to the New York State Terrorism Tips Hotline at 1-866-SAFE-NYS 1-[PHONE REDACTED] Across New York State 1-888-NYC-SAFE 1-[PHONE REDACTED] In New York City New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services Office of Counter Terrorism www.dhses.ny.gov Harriman State Office Campus 1220 Washington Avenue Building 7A Albany, NY 12242 Office of Fire Prevention and Control www.dhses.ny.gov 99 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12231 New York State Department of Health www.health.state.ny.us Corning Tower Albany, NY 12237 New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services Safeguard New York “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!” Report Suspicious Activity 1-866-SAFE-NYS 1-[PHONE REDACTED] Fire and EMS ---PAGE BREAK--- EMERGENCY RESPONDERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ► A person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States. ► Unusual chemicals or other materials that seem out of place. ► Ammunition, firearms, or weapons boxes. ► Surveillance equipment, still and video cameras, and night vision goggles. ► Maps, photos, blueprints. ► Police manuals, training manuals, flight manuals. ► Little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress. ► Inquiries regarding certain types of over the counter drugs and their potential harmful effects. ► Requests to purchase, or knowledge of how to purchase particular medications. ► Inquiries into the purchase of a new, used, or decommissioned emergency vehicle, or how to authenticate emergency vehicle markings. TERRORIST GROUPS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO TARGET FIRST RESPONDERS ■ First responders should be alert on every call; ranging from motor vehicle accidents to calls to residences, businesses, and public spaces. ■ Upon arriving at a potentially man-made incident, responders should be aware of the possibility of a second attack or bomber. ■ Those who target first responders cause a delay in care for those who are injured. ■ Emergency services personnel should conduct a thorough observation of all people at the scene of an attack, including the injured to detect possible threats. ■ Responders should be alert to the behavior of those on scene, including friends and family members of patients/victims. HOW EMERGENCY SERVICES CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM LOSS ► Monitor and control who is entering your stations: current employees/members, former employees/members, and delivery and service personnel. ► Check identification and ask individuals to identify the purpose of their visit to your department. ► Report broken doors, windows and locks to your organization’s security personnel as soon as possible. Repairs should be made in a timely manner. ► Back-up files or copies of sensitive and critical information and databases should be made. ► Store, lock, and inventory your organization’s keys, access cards, uniforms, badges, and vehicles. ► Monitor and report suspicious activity in or near your facility’s entry/exit points, parking areas, garages, and immediate vicinity. ► Suspicious-looking packages should be reported to your local law-enforcement. DO NOT OPEN or TOUCH. ► Shred or destroy all documents that contain sensitive personal or organizational information that is no longer needed. ► Keep an inventory of your most critical equipment, hardware, and software. ► Store and lock your personal items such as wallets, purses, and identification when not in use. ► Question an unexplained withdrawal by a student after completion of training or a certification program. ► Be alert for suspicious individuals observed loitering in the vicinity of parked ambulances, fire apparatus, or hospital and emergency room entrances. ► Investigate loss of equipment associated with fire or EMS vehicles: this includes medical equipment and supplies, medications and controlled substances, uniforms, insignias or decals, vehicle license plate(s), special parking placards, lights, sirens, and communication equipment. Know the Routines Be aware of what is going on around you Take what you hear seriously “If you see something, say something!” 1) Surveillance: Terrorist cells have been known to record and monitor activities, taking pictures and making drawings. Be alert to those individuals you see at emergency scenes on a repeat basis. Being observant supports homeland security and fire prevention efforts. 2) Information Gathering: In your interaction with the public be aware of individuals attempting to gain information about your operations, staffing and security protocols that appear to be more than just typical curiosity. 3) Tests of Security: Be alert to any attempts to measure reaction times to entering restricted areas. Be alert to who is in and around your station. Emergency vehicles and uniforms have been stolen in an attempt to use them during acts of terrorism. 4) Funding: Suspicious transactions involving large cash payments, deposits, withdrawals, or transfers of money; bulk cash smuggling; suspected financial fraud; sale of counterfeit goods; or misleading charities. 5) Acquiring Supplies: Through your full-time or part- time employment be alert to those attempting to obtain explosives, weapons, uniforms, badges, credentials, etc. Amassing large quantities of equipment should send up a red flag if the individual acquiring those materials has no business doing so. 6) Suspicious Persons Out of Place: This may include people who are in places they should not be, as well as people who do not fit into the daily routine of surroundings or the emergency scene. 7) Dry or Trial Run: Be alert to people that just look out of place or you have seen at multiple emergency scenes as they could be part of a dry run exercise for illegal activity. Be alert to multiple false alarms to the same location, especially areas considered critical infrastructure such as government buildings and schools. 8) Deploying Assets: Beware of what looks like people and supplies getting into position to commit an act of violence. Remember scene safety, if you spot something or get information on the way to a call that suggests you and your crew would be in danger consider staging at a safe distance and follow your department’s scene safety protocols. KNOW THE EIGHT SIGNS OF TERRORISM