NCJ Number
199754
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2003 Pages: 37-38
Date Published
March 2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes a community-based counterterrorism training program launched by the Teaneck Police Department (New Jersey) to empower residents to be proactive in the fight against terrorism.
Abstract
The training curriculum was developed by the Community Anti-Terrorism Training Institute. The curriculum, titled the Community Anti-Terrorism Training Initiative, is known as Cat Eyes. It is designed to help local communities combat terrorism by enhancing neighborhood security, heightening the community's powers of observation, and encouraging mutual assistance and concern among neighbors. It instructs residents to watch for terrorist indicators that do not include a person's race or religion, teaches average citizens about terrorism, educates and empowers citizens, establishes a national neighborhood block watch program, and educates school children. The program involves the joint efforts of Federal, State, and local governments, along with community residents and private companies who donate time, money, and resources. Specifically, the training provides tips on the main forms of terrorist surveillance, the profile of terrorists, and what constitutes suspicious activity. The program teaches residents to be analytical about identifying suspicious activity and to be precise and detailed in reporting any activity deemed suspicious. The reaction of those trained in the program has been consistent with the department's desired result of empowering the community to be effective participants in counterterrorism efforts at the grassroots level.