The Mission of Law Enforcement Since Sept. 11, 2001

Because of the terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001, all levels of law enforcement have had changes in their mission statements.

While previously most local and state police agencies were focused largely on “smaller” crimes, crimes with traditional motives of greed, rage, jealousy and necessity among others, after the terrorist attacks, they were faced with global problems.

In other words, they suddenly were responsible for potential crimes outside their normal scope. Police now must deal with all sorts of traditional crimes – as they always did – plus they must be aware of civil defense and potential terrorist activities.

For example, prior to Sept. 11, 2001, police officers may have laughed off a phone call from a flight school owner saying he had a student who didn’t care about landing a plane, only flying it. In the post-Sept. 11 world, this would cause alarm and likely lead to an investigation in which local police would call for help from the county, state and federal levels.

They also must be aware of things like big purchases of fertilizer and other seemingly mundane materials because now they know what potential for terrorism these materials have.

Along with additional training, local police do have new tools – including the USA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act – that allows surveillance and other intrusive forms of investigation to allow them to meet these new challenges of their revised, 21st century mission.

Under this act, law enforcement officials no longer just enforce common, local laws such as drug solicitation, theft and standard violence violations. Now law enforcement officials are required to investigate bigger, perhaps more dangerous crimes such as bombings and other terrorist actions. While the biggest case most local police agencies may have faced before Sept. 11, 2001 was a drug ring or serial murder, now they can be involved in massive plots against the country.

Most law enforcement officials who were working in the field prior to Sept. 11, 2001 probably never could have imagined how their field and their mission would change.