American Security Today September Digital Magazine September 2016 | Page 11

Volume 7

September 2016 Edition

fice who now works in corporate security.
Still, law enforcement agencies and the public at
large are far from helpless, experts said. Public
safety agencies continue to study and learn from
each new attack, share intelligence and work to
find ways to remain vigilant and prepared while
encouraging ordinary citizens to report any activity
that strikes them as suspicious.
In light of the attack in Nice, the state police said
Friday that there are no known threats to New Jersey. But the department said it continues to work
with law enforcement at all levels to monitor updates about the attack, and it cautioned the public
to remain alert and to report any suspicious activity.

Chief Michael Foligno of the Elmwood Park

Tom O’Reilly, director of the Police Institute at Rutgers University

That was a message that several experts and officials underscored Friday.
Tom O’Reilly, director of the Police Institute at Rutgers University, said people should not hesitate to
go to the police if they notice something strange —
a truck driving erratically, for instance, or a person
wearing a long overcoat in hot weather that could
be hiding a weapon — and know that the authorities will vet the tip.
“What’s so important about community policing —
you need to have a relationship with your local police officers,” he said.

Chief Michael Foligno of the Elmwood Park police
said he believes in the power of community policing, as residents often notice suspicious behavior
before officers do.
“That’s more eyes and ears for us, that multiplies
our department,” he said. “That’s where 90 percent
of your tips and your information comes from.”
Foligno said officers receive daily intelligence briefings during their shift roll calls. Reports also are
sent to local departments from the state’s Regional
Operations Intelligence Center.
“We’re trying to stay as much ahead of the curve as
possible,” he said.
Police train for terrorist attacks, but often it’s response-based training to mitigate the impact after
an event has occurred.
“Actually stopping a rogue person from doing
something? That’s nearly impossible,” Foligno acknowledged.
Still, law enforcement and security experts said
they have come to accept that what happened in
France is a constant threat.
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