NCJ Number
214862
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 54 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 68,69,71
Date Published
May 2006
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes how Federal-State cooperation can facilitate regional law enforcement responses throughout the Nation when large-scale emergencies occur.
Abstract
Currently there is no framework in place for regional law enforcement responses in emergencies. The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) could be the key organization for developing such a framework. The EMAC is a national organization founded in 1996 and ratified by Congress. The National Emergency Managers Association provides oversight of the EMAC. The EMAC's purpose is to facilitate interstate mutual aid. Every State has signed on to participate in the EMAC, whose articles of agreement mention law enforcement as an example of an emergency service that may be needed. Once States have the ability to mobilize law enforcement teams in an emergency, then a Federal agency such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could have the responsibility to coordinate interstate law enforcement responses. This will require that State and regional law enforcement teams be created and trained to be ready for action when an emergency arises. Current law enforcement training has been standardized to produce common skills for emergency responses across law enforcement agencies, and it would not be difficult to resolve command and control issues for a regional law enforcement effort. EMAC's commitment to a nationwide effort to build regional law enforcement frameworks and FEMA's endorsement of the concept can be the first step.