NCJ Number
187338
Date Published
2000
Length
247 pages
Annotation
This book aims to provide law enforcement guidelines and techniques for gathering evidence to use when responding to an incident involving the use or the threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Abstract
The introduction explains that law enforcement personnel will undoubtedly be among the first responders to an incident involving chemical, biological, radiological, explosive, or incendiary materials and that their initial actions will have a significant effect on the outcome, including the safety of the public and that of the responders themselves. In addition, police must be prepared to work side by side with other agencies and specialties, including fire and emergency medical service personnel, as well as other law enforcement agencies from various levels and jurisdictions. Thus, this task will require the use of an effective incident management system that involves all the response agencies working together toward a common objective. The book’s first part addresses the actions to be taken by the first police personnel arriving at the scene of such an incident. The text details the planning process, the incident management process, and tactical operations that may be necessary to arrest individuals or prevent an incident. The book’s second part provides guidelines and information for use by the investigator trained in dealing with hazardous materials. This section details the required training, equipment, and investigative procedures and presents step-by-step instructions for collecting chemical, biological, and radiological evidence. The text also presents investigative techniques to assist the criminal investigator in identifying and entering a facility suspected of manufacturing a weapon of mass destruction. The text also presents remote sampling techniques to assist in gathering the probable cause for a search warrant. Photographs, figures, checklists, glossary, index, appended additional guidelines and checklists, and reference notes