ABSTRACT
Expanding behavioral traits beyond what has been often referred to as the "seven signs of terrorism" will enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to identify patterns and relationships. Smith's research highlights the importance of having a proactive law enforcement commitment. He demonstrates the temporal patterns of terrorist group activities as seen from the research. In recent years, two topics have garnered significant attention, both good and bad: information sharing and suspicious activity reporting (SAR). There is much debate about how SAR came about and how local law enforcement became involved in it. The nationwide SAR cycle however does not have a defined starting or ending point. All department employees, regardless of position or title, play a vital role in identifying and reporting suspicious activity that may be indicative of behavioral traits or patterns related to homeland security threats. Terrorism information needs are a product of the collaboration between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners.
