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Preventing Stress Disorders for Law Enforcement Officers Exposed to Disturbing Media
From the thesis abstract: "The law enforcement officer's job is both physically and mentally challenging. In an instant, officers can be thrown into extremely stressful situations. Officers and intelligence analysts continually view disturbing images during their time in the unit--some must watch child pornography, and others prison torture, as part of their daily duties. This thesis explores how law enforcement departments can prevent secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD) among officers. Although limited in part by the police culture, the research examined several currently utilized programs that teach coping mechanisms, including SHIFT [Supporting Heroes In mental health Foundation Training], peer support officer programs, and critical incident stress management. The research also examined approaches being utilized by the military to treat returning soldiers suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and service dogs. Further research should be conducted to discover law enforcement programs that proactively treat the mental health and wellness of all their officers--not only those exposed to disturbing media."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Murphy, Matthew G.
2016-09
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TB Anywhere is TB Everywhere: The Intersection of U.S. Immigration Enforcement Policy and TB
From the thesis abstract: "Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant health issue to both the general public and the officers who enforce our nation's immigration laws. Current immigration enforcement policies increase the likelihood that immigration officers will encounter people with TB. Should the United States alter its immigration enforcement policies to address more directly the threat that tuberculosis poses to public health? This thesis reviews this question through the lens of the Advisory Council on Tuberculosis's recommendation that the priority is to identify and treat all cases of active TB. This thesis provides a policy options analysis examining the status quo and three options suggested in the literature on TB: cure TB before removal, increase international cooperation in treating TB, and increase TB testing. This policy analysis identifies gaps in the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) ability to identify and treat active TB in the aliens encountered through the immigration enforcement process. Additionally, it recommends that the DHS require that all detained aliens be screened for active TB by use of a chest X-ray. It further recommends that the DHS completely cure all aliens found to have active TB, whether detained or released from detention, prior to their removal from the United States."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Little, Reed David
2016-09
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Your Criminal FICO Score
From the thesis abstract: "One of the more contentious uses of big data analytics in homeland security is predictive policing, which harnesses big data to allocate police resources, decrease crime, and increase public safety. While predictive analytics has long been in use to forecast human behavior, the framework has not proved to be a flawless undertaking. In an effort to improve outcomes of predictive policing, this thesis assesses two high-profile programs--the nation's most popular credit-scoring system [FICO/Fair Isaac Company] and a federal flight-risk program--to determine the greatest pitfalls inherent to programs using predictive analytics. The programs are assessed using what is commonly known in big data as the four Vs-- volume, velocity, variety, veracity--but with an added component of the author's creation: verification. Through this framework, it became apparent that the hardest Vs for any predictive policing program to fulfill are veracity and verification. As the field of predictive policing expands, programs face the challenge of ensuring that data used for analysis is accurate and remains accurate, and that the metrics used to verify risk assessments are sound."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tonelli, Michelle
2016-09
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Developing a Shared Service Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Capability for Regional Emergency Services
From the thesis abstract: "At the scenes of emergencies across the nation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proven their worth to rescue crews; however, this expensive asset is not necessarily a tool that every emergency service would use routinely. This research explored three shared service models, determined their best attributes, and then applied those characteristics to the development of a regional UAV asset that would avoid duplication of resources. The study addressed relevant issues including assumption of risk and liability, public privacy concerns, and federal legislation. Findings led to the following recommendations in the creation of a regional UAV asset: 1) conduct a response evaluation to support a shared service UAV; 2) organize the asset under local government nonprofit oversight; 3) take advantage of grant funding for initial asset purchase; 4) define sustainable funding for maintenance and repair; 5) investigate further revenue generation, housing at least one asset within a large organization; 6) research applicable state law for managing risk; 7) develop privacy and organizational policy consistent with community standards; and 8) define the roles and responsibilities of the organization and the administration."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Lakamp, Thomas Charles
2016-09
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Port Security Grant Program: Good Enough, or Can It Be Made Better
From the thesis abstract: "For almost a decade and a half since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Port Security Grant Program [PSGP] has provided funding to project proposals for improving the security and resiliency posture of the nation's ports and waterways. The United States has over 360 coastal and inland ports through which over $1.3 trillion in cargo moves annually; a safe, secure, and efficient MTS [Marine Transportation System] is critical to national security. The PSGP is intended to enhance port security and resiliency by funding proposals to provide increased risk management, measures to mitigate disruptions and facilitate port recovery, and maritime domain awareness (MDA) capabilities to prevent, respond to, and recover from attacks. The PSGP has matured to include funding for all-hazards threatening the ports-natural, accidental, and intentional. This thesis seeks to evaluate how well the PSGP has met those goals and if it should be improved, reorganized or eliminated."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Arnett, Paul D. J.
2016-06
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Granting Concessions and Paying Ransoms to Terrorists: A Policy Options Analysis of the U.S. Policy on Hostage Recovery
From the thesis abstract: "Nations around the world, including the United States, have been battling terrorist hostage-takings by instituting 'no-concessions' policies. The hope is that denying terrorists their demands will remove all incentives for hostage-taking, thereby eliminating its practice. However, since this policy has been in existence, research has shown that hostage-takings have increased. Considering the recent, highly publicized beheadings of hostages held by the Islamic State, is there a better policy option, such as one that protects U.S. citizens who are being held hostage? To answer this question, this thesis conducted a policy options analysis. Criteria were developed from the literature, and the current U.S. policy was compared to two other policy options. The research found that current U.S. policy does not effectively achieve its goals and, as such, does not offer the best protection to U.S. citizens. As a result, the thesis concluded that the United States would be better served by removing the no-concessions rule and focusing on a policy that punishes terrorists who participate in hostage-taking."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hyatt, Rodney
2016-06
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Getting the Message Across: An Analysis of Foodborne Outbreak Communications Between Federal, State, and Local Health Agencies
From the thesis abstract: "To assure coordination of emergency response across multiple areas of responsibility, clear methods of communication between public health agencies need to be defined before responding to foodborne outbreaks. Such capacity is essential to assure the United States can satisfy its goal of achieving an Integrated Food Safety System, as mandated under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. With this in mind, a comparative analysis was conducted of 21 states' general operating procedures to ascertain lines and modes of communication related to foodborne outbreaks, evaluate for procedural commonalities and best practices, identify potential barriers to effective communication, and make recommendations to enhance multi-directional coordinated information exchanges among health agencies. The analysis identified that while all states included recognize the value of a prompt response in disease identification, investigation and control, coordinated communication strategies within and between affected public health agencies is less robust. Many protocols are vague in establishing parameters for what information can be shared with other agencies, and under which circumstances. A multitude of electronic portals exist for collaborative purposes; however, these resources are not centralized. Recommendations for systemic improvement include expanding the current food protection rapid-response teams to all 50 states, assuring that formalized inter- and intra-agency communication plans exist in every outbreak response protocol, assuring the Incident Command System is explicitly stipulated in every regulatory outbreak response plan, and establishing funding opportunities for county and local health agencies related to communication training and system enhancements for collaborations in the midst of an outbreak."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Samarya-Timm, Michele
2016-06
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Facilitating the Medical Response into an Active Shooter Hot Zone
From the thesis abstract: "The response to active shooter attacks is not as effective as it could be. People die before receiving care because most jurisdictions have a policy in place that stipulates emergency medical services (EMS) wait to enter a scene until law enforcement (LE) announces that the scene is clear or secure. Since this can take some time, life-saving care is not immediately available to the people who most need it, and consequently, there can be a greater loss of life. How can a combined LE and EMS response, based on combat medical care, be effective in saving lives during an active shooter incident? Utilizing 10 historic active shooter cases ranging from the Texas tower shooting in 1966 and concluding with the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012, I analyzed the responses to consider the response times of the responders, time of access to the victims, and transport time to medical facilities. The basis for the responses utilized data collected by the U.S. military from combat injuries sustained from World War II through the current conflicts in the Middle East. From these analyses, I am able to show that fast field intervention based on training, policy, and operational planning with the Incident Command System component, which includes both law enforcement and fire/EMS entry teams, will provide better patient viability prior to hospital care. This will not be a critique of right and wrong, as the responders did what was needed at the time; however, in current-day hindsight, there are points that can be noted for future response growth."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tierney, Martin T.
2016-06
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No Nation is Home Alone: Understanding the International Dimension of Homeland Security Through Global Transportation Security Programs
From the thesis abstract: "Terrorist actors focus on the global transportation system to introduce threats and target attacks. As the lead department for securing the transportation system into the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works both domestically and internationally to implement programs and foreign assistance activities to secure the global transportation network. This thesis examines DHS' international role by analyzing programs and policies implemented by its three largest global transportation agencies: the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Due to the breadth of DHS programs and activities, their stated goals and objectives, and their legal mandates, this thesis determines that a U.S. foreign assistance framework provides minimal insight into DHS' international footprint. Instead, this research developed a simple model for understanding the primary components of DHS' international mission space and identified operations, policy, outreach and engagement, and training and technical assistance as core concepts in DHS' international mission. Using this model, DHS can pursue the additional recommendations developed in this thesis-applying systems theory as a basis for an international transportation security strategy as well as pursuing direct funding for its international transportation programs and activities as a fully integrated department-within the traditional U.S. foreign policy and national security institutions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tarpey, Dominique
2016-03
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Crowds As Complex Adaptive Systems: Strategic Implications for Law Enforcement
From the thesis abstract: "Law enforcement attempts to control unruly crowds have come under increased scrutiny in light of recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri; Baltimore, Maryland; and other locales across the United States. Resultant criticism is forcing law enforcement agencies nationwide to review their civil-unrest policies. Crowd behavior resulting from police actions is an important component of crowd control. Viewing crowds from a systems perspective, as done in this thesis, provides powerful new insights to help law enforcement assess potential crowd behaviors. Through this new awareness, this thesis makes recommendations regarding policies, training, and equipment that law enforcement can use to make better-informed decisions related to crowd control."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Leverone, Robert H.
2016-03
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Assessing the Cannabis Legalization Debate: Lessons Learned from the Colorado and Washington Experiment
From the thesis abstract: "Cannabis is illegal as far as federal law is concerned; yet recent trends in the United States indicate it is moving toward more widespread legalization. While both sides of the legalization debate pose valid arguments, it has been difficult to assess aspects of these arguments in the past. Now that Colorado and Washington have fully legalized cannabis, what does data demonstrate to support or rebut these arguments and what problems have sporadic legalization led to in the drug control space? This thesis examines regulatory, financial, and criminal data in Colorado and Washington to identify advantages and disadvantages of legalizing cannabis. Findings indicate commercialization of legal cannabis creates a sizeable economic stimulus due to demand satisfaction and displacement of drug trafficking organizations for supply. Crime levels increased as compared to national averages while drug arrest rates remained stable, which could be influenced by other factors. Overall, as a result of disparate national policy, Colorado and Washington have become source states for cannabis distribution as findings indicate spillage of legal cannabis into black markets nationally. This thesis recommends rescheduling cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act to further research the drug while increasing state civil asset forfeiture options in prohibitionist states to facilitate criminal enforcement."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Neener, Michael C.
2016-03
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Sovereign Citizen Movement: The Shifting Ideological Winds
From the thesis abstract: "The FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] has identified the Sovereign Citizen Movement (SCM) as a significant threat to the domestic security of the United States. The movement's adherents are capable of significant acts of violence and creating civil unrest. They also embrace harassing tactics such as filing lawsuits, false liens, and restraining orders as a method to harass government and financial institutions. This is known as paper terrorism. The modern SCM has its roots in the Posse Comitatus movement and in racialist philosophies such as the Christian Identity Movement. It was primarily a movement embraced by right-wing Caucasians. Over time, the SCM has morphed from a primarily racialist platform to a more inclusive anti-government platform. The current SCM model is decentralized and largely leaderless, and its narrative is often driven by circumstances. Using social identity theory as a framework, what conclusions can be drawn regarding this change, and how can the government prepare for the emerging ideation of SCM? If not handled appropriately, government reactions to economic and social crisis could validate the SCM narrative. Government entities must embrace training, transparency, and ethical decision making in an effort to nullify the SCM narrative."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bell, Devon M.
2016-03
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Ethics on the Fly: Toward a Drone-Specific Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines the issue of law enforcement's use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from an ethical perspective. As UAS have only recently been introduced into the National Airspace System (NAS), legislation regarding their use in America's skies is lacking. This dearth of statutory guidelines creates a circumstance wherein self-imposed limits on UAS use by law enforcement take on greater importance. The primary research question posed by this thesis is whether a prevailing ethical framework exists to govern the use of UAS by domestic law enforcement functions. It concluded no consensus exists. Using the case study method, this thesis considered documentary evidence of ethical frameworks for UAS currently in use by law enforcement. A comparative policy analysis is then performed to identify overlapping areas of concern, in order to arrive at a template that recommends seven dimensions that law enforcement executives should consider in creating a drone-specific code of conduct for policing. A case is made for publicly declaring an agency's code of conduct in the interest of strengthening the relationship between police and the public vis-à-vis the social contract."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Smith, Brian T.
2016-03
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Establishing the Intelligence Required by the Fire Department City of New York for Tactical and Strategic Decision Making
From the thesis abstract: "Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, numerous reports came to the same conclusion: there was an urgent need to enhance information sharing throughout the homeland security community (HSC). The report of the National Commission of the Terrorist Attacks upon the United States set forth numerous failures of information sharing that occurred throughout the HSC involving events leading up to 9/11, the attacks, and the response. The necessity of information to enable the fire service (FS) to make proper decisions is clear. Groups working on how to best provide the FS with intelligence believe that in order to assist the Intelligence Community (IC) in providing the intelligence, a specific list should be developed. This has become the goal of this thesis. In analyzing what intelligence is required by the FS, it has become apparent that there are a vast number of variables. Taking into account these variables and the dynamic environment has revealed that compiling a list of specific requirements is not practical. In lieu of a specific list, a better option would be to make available to the IC an understanding of the operations of the FS. By providing an explanation of the information that the FS utilizes to respond to emergencies, an understanding, as opposed to a stagnant list, of the intelligence needs of the FS could be established. To accomplish this, a guide for the IC could be established-a guide similar to those available to the FS explaining the IC. This guide could explain the intelligence needs of the FS at a level that is understandable and pertinent to those tasked with fulfilling them. A draft guide is included in the appendix of this thesis."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Kiesling, James W.
2016-03
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Armed to Learn: Aiming at California K-12 School Gun Policy
From the thesis abstract: "Although the idea of a school shooting strikes fear in the hearts of school administrators, school employees, and parents, there is no agreement on whether arming employees is a sound strategy to counter this threat. There is a wide gap in viewpoints between gun control advocates who want tighter gun control and constitutionalists who believe as strongly in the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Whether or not to implement a weapons policy is an issue every school superintendent or school authority may need to face sooner or later. This research does not seek to answer the question of whether school districts should arm their employees. Rather, it seeks to provide a framework for each educational agency to explore, contemplate, and determine its course of action based upon risk-management principles that take into account the values, goals, and capabilities of the community in which the policy would apply. Possible outcomes include the policy options of MoreGuns (allow teachers to be armed), BanGuns (no one is armed), or SomeGuns (trained security or law enforcement can be armed but not teachers). This research is intended to stand as a resource for stakeholders such as legislators, parents, and employees; to equip them to engage in the policy debate; and to empower their participation in making informed decisions about school-district weapons policy."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Jones, Catherine Wilson
2016-03
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Fluid Leadership: Inviting Diverse Inputs to Address Complex Problems
From the thesis abstract: "History is replete with examples of misapplied leadership strategies. When singular methods are used to solve multifaceted problems, negative results are often the consequence. Complex issues in a complex environment require complex perspectives; the homeland security enterprise (HSE) needs leaders who can adapt their leadership styles according to emerging environments. Furthermore, the diverse agencies within the HSE must work together more frequently and dependably to make coordinated decisions that impact their broad community. This thesis proposes integrating multiple leadership models to generate innovative, diverse solutions that will strengthen the HSE. By examining dozens of models, the research developed a conceptual synthetic leadership model. It is recommended that this proposed model be implemented within HSE components and studied organizationally."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Moir, Sylvia
2016-03
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Leveraging State and Local Law Enforcement Maritime Homeland Security Practices
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis explores the practices of six state or local law enforcement agencies in the field of maritime homeland security. Using the Delphi Survey Method on a sample of the highest-risk, most strategically located, and most commercially important ports in the United States, this thesis looks at the successes and challenges of grant funding, training practices, recovery efforts, and state government role in maritime homeland security. The resounding and underlying theme of the best practices cited by these port areas is centered on collaborative efforts across federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. Respondent agencies noted that the most successful practices in their respective ports were the result of coordination across information sharing, exercises and drills, task forces, and centers (fusion centers, operations centers, coordination centers, and training centers)."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Nichols, Kirk L.
2016-03
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Sports-related Riots: Understanding Group Behavior to Improve Police Strategy
From the thesis abstract: "When a celebration following a college sporting event turns into a riot, the consequences may be devastating to a school, a community, and the police department. This trend is increasing on campuses across the country, and the perceived randomness of violence has police departments and communities alarmed. Based on several assumptions, current police training and policy focuses on crowd movement and riot suppression, which minimizes the ability to influence a crowd to the point of preventing a riot. One assumption is that large crowds share group similarities. Police also use inaccurate behavioral markers to identify the changing mood of a crowd and base their response on these markers. This thesis identifies the differences among disturbances and focuses specifically on riots that occur following college sporting events in the United States, using supporting data from case studies of college sporting events between 1997 and 2015. Using the normative and social identity theories as models, this thesis shows that sports riots follow a specific pattern of social behaviors and shows how early intervention may influence the behavior of the crowd. Finally, it concludes with recommendations for police when managing the crowd before, during, and following a college sporting event."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mammana, Gregory N.
2016-03
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Strategic Planning for the Fire Service
From the thesis abstract: "Fire Service leaders at large need a non-confrontational process to collaborate on a long-range strategic plan to shape the Fire Service over the next 20 to 30 years. Fire Service 2.0 conceptually calls for expanding interoperability between fire agencies over a large geographic region to increase service while decreasing costs. Futures methodology scenario planning would allow Fire Service leaders to think through plausible what if scenarios before they occur. Three plausible future scenarios for the Fire Service have been created for this thesis using futures methodology. The drivers for these scenarios were drawn from FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Strategic Foresight Initiative, which identified drivers that are expected to impact emergency managers' operations in the future. Conclusions range from the death of the Fire Service as we know it, to its transformation into a relevant business sector leader that embraces emerging mission requirements. The goal is to begin strategic conversations today that will shape the Fire Service of tomorrow."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Holder, Glen M.
2016-03
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Emergency Management: A Guide for Policy Makers and Practitioners
From the thesis abstract: "Responding to disasters is a critical function for first responders and the emergency management community. The primary mission when responding to disasters is saving lives, which often requires the use of multiple resources. Rotary and fixed-winged aircraft have traditionally performed disaster response missions, such as overhead damage assessments, reconnaissance, and missing person searches. However, with the advancement of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), there is an opportunity to perform many conventional aerial missions in a safer, more expeditious, and cost-effective manner. This thesis explores the introduction of UASs for disaster response missions into the national airspace system of the United States. It includes a review of traditional disaster response missions and opportunities for the utilization of UASs; a comparison of UAS programs, both military and civilian, as well as international UAS programs; and a review of barriers to implementation. It also offers policy and program considerations for agencies and jurisdictions to consider when implementing a UAS program, and it recommends future research concerning the topic of autonomous UASs. Lastly, this thesis provides a decision guide to assist policy makers and practitioners with determining the need and feasibility of a UAS program."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Price, Darren E.
2016-03
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Becoming More Than a Digital Bullhorn: Two-Way Engagement on Twitter for Law Enforcement
From the thesis abstract: "Police agencies are increasingly turning to social media to communicate with the public; some departments only push information out one way, while others engage in a two-way, back-and-forth conversation. Research is robust on topics such as two-way engagement, the benefits of a large following, and the positive impact government can have by using social media during and after crises, but there is a marked lack of police-specific quantifiable data. The purpose of this thesis is to determine if two-way engagement on Twitter leads to an increase in followers. A case study analysis of three Silicon Valley, California, police departments' Twitter engagement habits showed that agencies using a two-way communication model receive more new followers overall than agencies using a one-way model. The analysis did not, however, conclusively find a direct relationship on a monthly or daily basis between the amount of two-way engagement and the number of followers. Ultimately, the research reveals a number of tactics that police agencies can employ to increase two-way engagement, and recommends strategic implementation devices."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Perron, Zachary P.
2016-03
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Do You Know What's In Your Community? A Strategic Risk Management Approach to Better Prepare for Chemical Emergencies
From the thesis abstract: "Communities throughout the United States are susceptible to hazardous materials releases, with varying impact. Unfortunately, some of those incidents have caused catastrophic casualties, irreversible environmental damage, revenue loss, and nonconventional impacts such as community and industry social implications-many of which could have been prevented. This thesis creates a framework to help communities better prepare for chemical emergencies. The research examined two case studies, revealing three major disconnects and several challenges that emergency management professionals face to pursue a delicate balance of natural resources, population growth, limited resources, security, and the need for commercial goods-made possible by the necessary use and manufacturing of chemicals. This framework enables communities throughout the United States to better prepare for chemical disasters. It offers first responders, emergency management professionals, the private sector, and community members a collaborative path toward making their communities more resilient to chemical disasters in order to diminish preventable hazards and lessen inevitable impacts."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Furnish, Wun Kiu Vicky
2016-03
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Upping the Emergency Management Ante: The Role of Private Sector Collaboration in Emergency Management and Whether State Procurement and Emergency Management Laws Are Built to Collaborate
From the thesis abstract: "The benefits of public-private collaborations for enhanced emergency management purposes are widely acknowledged, but the questions of when and how such collaborations would be most beneficial have been the subject of much debate. Arguably, it is at the preparedness stage that the private sector's resources, innovative technologies and business continuity expertise can best be used to create more robust risk reduction and preparedness plans. Collaborations at this stage also provide for the identification and proper competitive procurement of all reasonably foreseeable emergency-related goods and services, rather than overuse of the emergency 'no-bid' exception to competitive procurement, which can result in contractor fraud and government abuse. But, do the appropriate legal mechanisms exist to support increased collaborations? Given that the discussion surrounding such collaborations is still current, the assumption was that legal reform would be necessary. Using the Best Practice Research methodology, a review of the states' procurement and emergency management laws actually reveals that they generally contain the necessary language to support increased public-private collaborations. But, some are more explicitly supportive of such collaborations than others. Accordingly, this thesis offers a statutory policy framework for agencies to consider to make greater use of private resources for better emergency management practices."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Manzella, Monica J.
2016-03
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Spatiotemporal Modeling of Community Risk
From the thesis abstract: "Every day throughout the country, fire departments respond to a variety of emergencies in their communities. Steadily over the last decade, departments have mitigated these threats in an atmosphere of decreasing budgets, declining fire volume, and a burgeoning call volume. Thus, fire service leaders require data and analysis to justify the dollars spent to mitigate the risks within communities. Community risk is dynamic in that it fluctuates over geography and time; spatiotemporal modeling is one proven method for illustrating such dynamic modulations. This thesis produces a spatiotemporal model of fire department call volume to depict fluctuations in community risk in the Fresno (CA) Fire Department's area of operations. This study led to several findings. First, using historical records for spatiotemporal modeling of community risk could help leaders visualize the dynamic nature of risk. Second, visualizing community risk with spatiotemporal modeling could provide the basis for resource deployment models attuned to specific risks. Finally, investigating additional data sets in conjunction with such methodology could uncover the causal factors of risk dynamics from which leaders design proactive preventative measures."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tuggle, Todd T.
2016-03
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Different Shade of Blue: An Evaluation of the Civilian Detective Concept and Its Impact on Police Capabilities
From the thesis abstract: "Financial distress and shrinking police candidate pools have diminished cities' abilities to protect the public. This thesis examines the manner in which cities have adapted by using civilians to perform the duties of sworn detectives-specifically, whether this practice enhances cities' contributions to public safety. Nine law enforcement organizations across the country that applied this policy were analyzed. It focused on cost implications, impacts on investigative and emergency response capabilities, job qualifications, training standards, scope of duties, and overall efficacy. Similar themes include the ability of cities to reduce costs and to achieve equivalent work output from civilian personnel. Dissimilar themes surrounded the reasons cities adopted the policy and how they trained the personnel. From the analysis, this thesis determined that the use of civilian personnel does enhance cities' contributions to public safety. This thesis also identified a need for a uniform national framework for policy adoption and for state peace officer accrediting commissions to develop guidelines for training and certification."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Green, David B.
2016-03
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Not Out of Control: Analysis of the Federal Disaster Spending Trend
From the thesis abstract: "The purpose of this study of 20-year trends in federal disaster spending was to determine whether and to what extent spending has been on the rise, and to examine contributing factors. A grounded theory analysis was conducted on 1,156 major declared disasters from fiscal years 1995 through 2014. Numerical data graphically illustrate budgeting, spending, and declaration trends, and policy and inertia influences are described. This study found an upward trend of federal disaster spending, yet one that is far from out of control. Research shows that 66% of major disaster funding was provided by emergency supplemental bills versus regularly budgeted appropriations. Half of all spending was on infrastructure, and hurricanes were the number one disaster type for federal spending. More severe storms were declared than all other disaster types combined, and the number of major disasters declared demonstrated an upward trend. The trend of rising spending and quantity of declarations was consistent with existing literature. Federal spending for fire, human services, post-disaster mitigation, and mission assignments demonstrated a downward trend as a proportion of the Disaster Relief Fund. Recommendations are provided to transform national thinking toward development of a national risk management approach to incentivize policymakers, homeowners, and local- and state-level funding recipients to better manage risk and improve stewardship of federal tax dollars."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Boccia, Suzanne
2016-03
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Ethical Imperative of Reason: How Anti-Intellectualism, Denialism, and Apathy Threaten National Security
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis explores the roots and manifestations of anti-intellectualism, denialism and apathy. Philosophical in its design, this research explores the following question: What are the potential effects of cultural anti-intellectualism on the construction and execution of national security and homeland security policy? Specifically, it focuses on how anti-intellectualism can affect how a course of action is created, presented, messaged, supported, and executed. The thesis amasses a review of previous research on the nature and manifestations of this issue and offers an account of the prospective implications for the securities field. Utilizing a case study model, this research explores three examples to highlight the manifestation of this current problem. The findings indicate that anti-intellectualism impacts the highest levels of the political, media, and security processes and, as such, requires practitioners to acknowledge and address its influence. This thesis concludes by arguing that widespread ignorance of objective reality poses a threat to the democratic process. It provides three overarching strategies designed to limit the impact of anti-intellectualism in the policy process and demonstrates that, in the intricate and dynamic matters of our nation's security, there is an ethical imperative for 'reason' and factual discussion to rule the policy process."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Favre, Greggory J.
2016-03
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Shadows of Stuxnet: Recommendations for U.S. Policy on Critical Infrastructure Cyber Defense Derived from the Stuxnet Attack
From the thesis abstract: "In June 2012, the worldwide cyber security landscape changed when the presence of a new and sophisticated malware, later dubbed 'Stuxnet,' was discovered in the computers of an Iranian nuclear facility. The malware was a cyber weapon, programmed to destroy the industrial machinery utilized for uranium enrichment. Stuxnet was soon dissected and diagnosed as a pioneering and politically motivated cyber attack that successfully infiltrated a high-security, government-run critical infrastructure and destroyed its physical property with computer code. The potential consequences of a similar attack on vulnerable U.S. critical infrastructures could be devastating. This thesis begins with a review of the evolution of U.S. policy related to the cyber defense of critical infrastructures. It then examines the critical infrastructure sectors within the United States, its dependency on computer technology, and the potential consequences of cyber attacks. A detailed case study of the Stuxnet attack follows, along with an analysis of the lessons learned from Stuxnet. The thesis concludes with specific policy improvement recommendations for the United States under three major themes: enhancing national unity of effort, expansion of cyber security coordination between the private and government sectors, and incentivizing private-sector compliance with best practices in cyber security."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Lendvay, Ronald L.
2016-03
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Beyond Sister City Agreements: Exploring the Challenges to Full International Interoperability
From the thesis abstract: "Communities on the international border are often interconnected by more than simple proximity. They are connected through social networks, economy, culture, and shared natural resources. Despite this interdependent relationship, and in spite of international agreements that support mutual aid between countries, crossing the border with emergency resources, even for a humanitarian purpose, can be problematic. This thesis examined existing agreements on both the northern and southern U.S. borders to determine how various regions address their cross-border agreements. Research indicated that unique challenges-such as liability concerns, local politics, and border violence-along the Mexican border must be addressed. By examining the fuller context, this thesis recommends that local entities examine their specific challenges to establishing fully interoperable agreements. Local interoperability agreements just might move us beyond 'sister city agreements' and put us on the path toward functional international partnerships."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Shanks, Calvin D.
2016-03
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Saving the Savable: Using Bystanders to Increase Survival from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) in New York City
From the thesis abstract: "Every year in America, thousands of people needlessly die following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Because first responders in New York City (NYC) have difficulty arriving soon enough, cardiac arrest survival rates lag significantly behind jurisdictions around the country. One successful approach used elsewhere to increase OHCA survival rates is encouraging bystanders to perform CPR [Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation] prior to first responders' arrival. Regarding bystanders as the first first responders requires a shift in thinking as well as an understanding of the modern bystander. This thesis examines the people, policies, and technology that are available-some of them already tested in other jurisdictions-and presents specific recommendations for NYC. Bridging the gap from the time a person stops breathing until the arrival of first responders may not be as difficult as it seems."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Leeb, Frank A.
2016-03
