Two law enforcement officials from ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region attended the 29th session of ADL’s Advanced Training School (ATS) course on Extremist and Terrorist Threats. This course, held June 5 to 7 in Washington, DC, is recognized as one of the premier counterterrorism trainings in the country.
Captain Raymond King of the San Bernardino Police Department and Captain Bobby Wyche of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department participated from the Pacific Southwest Region. Upon their return from the training, both expressed gratitude to ADL for offering this type of program for senior level law enforcement. They also noted the impressive level of expertise of the speakers and trainers
San Bernardino Police Captain King said, “What a great opportunity for law enforcement leaders and the ADL to come together and begin those very important working relationships. I am honored to be a part of the ADL family, whose values I hold dearly. The value the ADL brings to law enforcement in combating hate and mitigating future crimes is paramount.”
The course included a combination of both ADL’s own subject matter experts on white supremacy, anti-government extremism, homegrown radicalization, and international terrorist groups, as well as briefings on the changing threat landscape, countering violent extremism, the impact of homegrown radicalization and the effects of ISIL’s attacks in Europe from experts affiliated with various world-renowned think tanks. Israel National Police Commander and Chief of Operations of the Samaria and Judea District briefed the group on best practices and lessons learned in fighting terrorism. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan, who had participated in ATS in June, 2015, provided a special presentation on that city’s terror attack, including investigative techniques and effective methods of response by law enforcement.
The class was composed of 40 law enforcement executives and commanders representing major federal agencies (including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; US Air Force; US Capitol Police; US Coast Guard; US Customs and Border Protection; US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; US Marshals Service; and the US Secret Service), as well as commanders from some of the largest local agencies in the country (including the Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Mesa, Nassau County, Prince George’s County, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Diego, Seattle and Washington DC Police Departments), and commanders from several major state agencies.
ATS has now trained more than 1,000 law enforcement commanders from about 250 agencies since the course was launched in 2003.
ATS’s three-day sessions, held twice a year in Washington, D.C., are designed to provide chiefs and executives from federal, state, local, and military law enforcement agencies from across the country with practical information, resources, and contacts to help them combat domestic and international extremist and terrorist threats. There is no similar program available for law enforcement.