NCJ Number
13318
Date Published
1974
Length
58 pages
Annotation
SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS HELPFUL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ENGAGED IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY CRISIS OPERATING PROCEDURES.
Abstract
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES NEED CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR MAINTAINING PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY DURING PERIODS OF FUEL AND ENERGY SHORTAGES. THE RELATIVELY MINOR DIFFICULTIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED IN THIS AREA SHOULD SERVE AS WARNINGS AND ENCOURAGE FORMULATION OF OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES TO BE USED IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE OR UNEXPECTED CRISIS. THE GUIDE EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR A WRITTEN PLAN, PREPARED IN COORDINATION WITH CITY OR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, MASS TRANSIT AGENCIES, FUEL DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, AND PUBLIC UTILITIES. ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF AN ENERGY CRISIS ON CRIME IS UNKNOWN, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS MUST PREDICT WHICH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS LIKELY TO INCREASE AND WHICH MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO FLUCTUATE AS A RESULT OF GASOLINE SHORTAGES, REDUCED STREET LIGHTING, AND RESTRICTED ELECTRICAL SERVICES. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT COMMUNITY DEMANDS FOR POLICE SERVICES WILL INEVITABLY INCREASE AT A TIME WHEN IT MAY BE MOST DIFFICULT TO MEET THESE NEEDS. LACK OF AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF GASOLINE, FOR INSTANCE, MAY REQUIRE A CURTAILMENT OF NORMAL PATROL FUNCTIONS AT A TIME WHEN THE INCIDENCE OF COMMERCIAL BURGLARIES, PURSE SNATCHES, FIRERELATED CALLS, AND FUEL THEFTS MAY BE DRASTICALLY INCREASED. IN ADDITION, AN ELECTRICAL BROWN-OUT OR BLACKOUT COULD CRITICALLY HAMPER DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS. FOR THESE REASONS, DEPARTMENTS SHOULD EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THEIR SECONDARY ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF EMERGENCY STOCKPILES OF GASOLINE. IN THE EXTREME EVENT THAT NO GASOLINE IS AVAILABLE FOR NORMAL PATROL, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MAY EVEN BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN BICYCLES OR HORSES TO SUPPLEMENT POLICEMEN ON BEAT. APPENDED TO THE GUIDE ARE PORTIONS OF THE PHILADELPHIA EMERGENCY BLACKOUT PLAN, THE NATURE AND DETAIL OF WHICH MAY AID OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN DEVELOPING SIMILAR DOCUMENTS. ALSO INCLUDED IS AN ENERGY CRISIS PLANNING CHECKLISTS WHICH INDICATES CRITICAL ASPECTS OF POTENTIAL CRISES THAT ANY CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS SHOULD CONSIDER.