maritime security

It was only in November that I wrote this story about Tom Ridge's comments regarding a bombing attempt in the D.C. Metro. Basically, Ridge said that no matter what measures are put in place to secure public transportation, the risk remains high. But, better some security than none, right? Recently the Metro announced it has begun conducting random inspections of carry-on items.

“This adds another layer of security to our system,” said MTPD Chief Michael A. Taborn, in the article. “The program will increase visible methods of protecting our passengers and employees, while minimizing inconvenience to riders."

Well, apparently the inconvenience has become too much. I just read this article in The Washington Post that the Metro Riders' Advisory Council voted overwhelming for a resolution that will ask the Metro board to suspend bag inspections and consult with the public about transit security policy. Some members of the council said that the inspections are unnecessary because there are no credible threats to the transit system. Um, well, no threats except that guy who said he wanted to blow it up, right?

But, apparently the inspections are only suppose to take a few minutes and are fairly non-intrusive:
Police will randomly select bags or packages to check for hazardous materials using ionization technology as well as K-9 units trained to detect explosive materials. Carry on items will generally not be opened and physically inspected unless the equipment indicates a need for further inspection.

I know the public probably finds the inspections annoying more than anything, but there's got to be something in place to deter the crazies. Let's work to find a middle ground and not just kill the inspections, people. It's for your own good.

Securing our nation's mass transit systems seems like a nearly impossible task and there's certainly no silver bullet for protecting the traveling public. A new report issued by the Government Accountability Office in July found that there are a number of promising explosives detection technologies out there, but also noted there are serious limitations that need to be addressed for proper deployment in a rail environment.

The report found that handheld, desktop, and kit-based trace detection systems, x-ray imaging systems, as well as the use of canines, are all technologies that have demonstrated good detection capabilities, but did not recommend any of these technologies specifically.

One of the concerns in securing ground transportation is passenger flow. It's fairly understood that passengers on New York's subway system, for example, are not going to tolerate major interruptions of their commute. Therefore, the government needs to find technologies that can detect explosives, but do not impede on passenger flow. For this, the GAO recommends the development of a concept of operations that "would help balance security with the need to maintain the efficient and free flowing movement of people. A concept of operations could include a response plan for how rail employees should react to an alarm when a particular technology detects an explosive."

The GAO also reported that in implementing these technologies and policies there are possibly too many organizations involved in this effort:

While there is a shared responsibility for securing the passenger rail environment, the federal government, including TSA, and passenger rail operators have differing roles, which could complicate decisions to fund and implement explosives detection technologies. For example, TSA provides guidance and some funding for passenger rail security, but rail operators themselves provide day-to-day-security of their systems.

TSA seems to be taking a bigger role in securing surface transportation. Secretary Napolitano recently announced the agency (and its new head) will focus more of its efforts on securing mass transit. It recently launched a national "See Something, Say Something" campaign, but no specifics on the technology side.

Last year we conducted a survey asking our readers what risks they were most concerned about. And, nearly half (49 percent) of you responded that workplace violence topped the list.

"With the domestic issues we have in this country, both economically and financially, concerns about workplace violence far outweighs and is more prevalent than threats of terrorism," John Dowd, senior account manager for Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, told SDN.

Well, workplace violence has once again topped the news this week after a man in Albuquerque, N.M. forced his way into a manufacturing plant where his (ex)girlfriend worked, killed two employees and then himself. Four other employees were also wounded in the attack.

The Associate Press reported that it is still unknown how the shooter got past security at Emcore Corp., but his first victim was a person who confronted him on the way into the facility.

Then he went through the building firing shots at several employees and leaving behind a gruesome scene of blood and shell casings across the company headquarters. Responding officers had to step past several victims — one dead and several wounded — as they raced into the building to stop the gunman.

This is certainly one of those events that would be difficult to protect against, regardless of how solid a company's access control and security program. Plus, the gunman is reportedly a former employee, so it's assumed he knew the campus and facility well.

So what are companies to do? How can you possibly protect against someone so bent on harming others?

The article also stated that the woman targeted in this attack had told co-workers she planned to report domestic violence to authorities. But that never happened and that is where the process typically breaks down, said Patrick Fiel, public safety advisor for ADT and the former executive director of the Washington, DC school system, in an interview yesterday (I'll post a longer story for newswire next week).

Fiel said that management often does not do enough to educate employees about issues of workplace violence. While it's likely that most company handbooks reference workplace violence, not enough organizations bother to do any type of follow-up or re-training about the procedures employees should take if they are concerned about a co-worker's safety. Fiel also said it is important for companies to have an anonymous tipline or hotline so employees feel safe reporting suspicions to supervisors.

It's also important for companies to do periodic background checks on all employees, something that Dowd said less than 5 percent of companies do.

And, of course, it's important to follow procedures when employees are terminated. Based on news reports, it sounds like this man pushed his way through security, but it's critical to ensure that terminated employees have their access cards revoked.

And while this is nothing short of a tragic incident, it certainly is a reminder to security professionals about the types of risks they should be addressing on a regular basis. Are you doing enough? I'm curious how many of you regularly conduct workplace violence awareness programs with your employees. You can vote in our Newspoll here.

I tried to find a good blog post today that didn't have anything to do with budgets and billions of dollars, but once I get started on something I can't seem to get away from it.

I just received the transcript from Secretary Janet Napolitano's speech to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee presenting President Obama’s 2010 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security. This release is fairly overwhelming, but I thought I'd share a few security initiatives that caught my attention:

AIRPORT SECURITY:
Explosives Detection Systems Procurement and Installation: An increase of $565.4 million to accelerate the Electronic Baggage Screening Program (EBSP) at the nation’s airports to ensure 100 percent of all checked baggage is screened with an in-line explosive detection capability system, or a suitable alternative. This funding will support facility modifications, recapitalization efforts, as well as procurement and deployment of electronic baggage screening technology systems.

Bomb Appraisal Officers: $9 million for an additional 109 Bomb Appraisal Officers (BAOs) to provide expertise in the recognition of and response to improvised explosive devices at airports to enhance aviation security. The request will provide BAO coverage at 50 percent more airports including all Category X, I, and II airports, and will provide a BAO in every hub-spoke airport system, and to airports that currently have only one BAO assigned.

MASS TRANSIT:
Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Teams: An increase of $50 million is requested to fund 15 Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams dedicated to guarding surface transportation. The VIPR teams contain multi-skilled resources, including Transportation Security Inspectors, canine teams, Transportation Security Officers, Bomb Detection Officers, and Federal Air Marshals.

Northern Border Technology: $20.0 million is requested to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in providing improved situational awareness along the northern border through the design, deployment, and integration of surveillance, sensing platforms, detection technologies and tactical infrastructure. This technology will expand DHS capabilities, increase the effectiveness of our agents, and increase the ability to detect unlawful border activity successfully.

State and Local Fusion Centers: Full support and staffing by the end of FY 2011 are requested for the 70 identified State and Local Fusion Centers, facilities where information and intelligence is shared between federal, state, local and tribal authorities. Funding is dedicated to IT maintenance, support, and training.

Intermodal Security Coordination Office (ISCO): A $10 million increase is requested for the Intermodal Security Coordination Office within DHS Policy to support integrated planning between DHS and the Department of Transportation in the area of maritime transportation, as well as in other homeland security mission areas. The Intermodal Security Coordination Office will develop a strategic plan and metrics to guide development and modernization of intermodal freight infrastructure that links coastal and inland ports to highways and rail networks.

I realize there are a lot of unhappy associations out there who would like to see more money flowing into security, but what I gathered from this speech was the effort by DHS to put money into the coordination of various security entities. I included the section on fusion centers and the Intermodal Security Coordination Office because I think that demonstrates a real effort by Napolitano to bring these disparate organizations together and encourage communication on such a large scale, which I think we can largely agree on, is a crucial element to national security.