A U.S. Justice Department report says Arlington County police have improved their operations to be better able to respond to a terrorist attack.
The county has stepped up its training for critical incidents, and now prepares officers for active-shooter incidents, hazardous materials and other forms of terrorist attacks., the report said. The changes have been made since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which included a hijacked American Airlines jet crashing into the Pentagon, killing 189 people.
The report, released by the National Institute for Justice says the county also has better intelligence coordination now.
It does, however, indicate that the heightened state of alert since the 2001 attacks has created “stress and frustration” among police officers. The constant state of near emergency “tries their patience” the report said.
— Freeman Klopott
