Rely on human intelligence, not just technology, and allow lone law enforcement officers to take immediate deadly action without waiting for backup.
Those were two recommendations included in a report released Thursday by Los Angeles area law enforcement officials detailing what they learned from their review of the multiple-shooter Paris terrorist attacks in November that killed 130 people and wounded hundreds of others.
A delegation consisting of top brass from the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the Beverly Hills Police Department traveled to France in April to speak with Paris authorities about their response to the attack.
The resulting report released by the Los Angeles Homeland Security Advisory Council — a nonprofit led by former Los Angeles Emergency Management director James Featherstone — summarizes insights by French authorities, who they said stressed the importance of human intelligence, rather than technological intelligence, developed through engagement with the community as a way to prevent such attacks from taking place.
Also important is the need for quick action if attack does occur, according to the report. One example of a successful tactic used during the Paris attack was that of a lone law enforcement officer at the Bataclan concert hall who responded immediately by killing the shooter, even though protocol dictates that he wait for back-up to arrive before acting.
The report includes 16 recommendations in the areas of intelligence, community engagement, investigation, incident command, crisis information and training and equipment.
The recommendations include more training aimed at preventing individuals from becoming radicalized, developing intelligence sources in the community, and continuing the existing real-time data tracking system now being used during attacks in the Southern California area.
Other recommendations include maintaining multiple types of communication methods are available, continuing to use social media to keep the public up to date, and providing education to the public on how to respond during an active shooter incident.
— Wire reports