International Journal on Criminology Volume 4, Number 2, Winter 2016 | Page 16

International Journal on Criminology
question” was always asked by the host service when terrorism-related events or
investigations occurred. Finally, their responsibility was to be on site of a terrorist
event as soon as possible to learn and report home what happened and how it
happened. It was vital that the NYPD learn from such events in order to improve its
own counterterrorism programs. It worked extremely well:
-----By having an accomplished Lieutenant on site after the Madrid
commuter train attack in 2004, the NYPD altered its Critical Response
Vehicle deployment strategy regarding subway stations and how it would
handle terrorist crime scene material.
-----By having a three-person team in Mumbai within 72 hours of
the terrorist attack in 2008, the NYPD quickly moved to train additional
personnel in use of long-guns, did internal hotel terrain mapping, established
specialized hotel teams, and had table top exercises using the Mumbai
scenario.
-----Within a week of arriving in Mumbai, the Intelligence Division
produced and disseminated to law enforcement agencies throughout the
United States a 70-page report on what it learned from Mumbai; at NYPD
Headquarters, Commissioner Kelly hosted a 2-hour videoconference
between the on-the-ground NYPD team while in Mumbai and 300
private sector and law enforcement personnel.
-----After the 7/7 and 7/21 bombings in London where one of the first
NYPD Liaison Officers were posted to Scotland Yard, Kelly began the
New York subway system baggage inspection program; following the UK
takedown of Operation Overt, specialized surveillance training was begun
should it be needed as it was during the Zazi case.
Learning from being on the scene was vital; sharing what waslearned with
other U.S. Police Departments and agencies was standard operating procedure.
Surprisingly, by the time the Kelly Administration ended, the NYPD Intelligence
Division had become a valuable source of information and insight for many of the
Foreign Security Services with which it worked.
-----During those 12 years, the Intelligence Division hosted hundreds of
visits by Foreign Security Services, provided training to more than a handful,
and had won the respect of all for its professionalism and effectiveness.
-----Some findings and observations stemming from those meetings
include the following:
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