Policing

Police-Community Relations Fundamental To Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses the slogan, “If You See Something, Say Something.” However, an increasing number of Americans are unwilling to speak to the police.

The United States is losing an information battle wherever law enforcement do not have a good rapport with the community they serve. In these jurisdictions, people are reluctant to get involved with the police, which creates a disconnect between those with potential information and those who can do something about it. The slogan, "If You See Something, Say Something" has meaning only if those who see something are willing to say something.

It is undisputed that police-community relations are necessary for effective law enforcement. A lack of community cooperation interferes with law enforcement’s ability to prevent, solve, and prosecute crimes. It also compromises law enforcement’s integral role in homeland security efforts. Police are fundamental to homeland security, not just because they serve as first responders, but also for their ability to collect local intelligence from the public. In addition, law enforcement are directly wired-in to fusion centers—the primary conduit between frontline personnel, state and local leadership, and the rest of the homeland security enterprise—and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.