ITACG Intelligence Guide for First Responders 2nd Edition - ISE.gov

What is a SAR and why is it important?
Law enforcement entities carry out counterterrorism-related activities as part of their duty
to protect local communities from crime and violence. It is important that first responders
who recognize criminal behaviors and incidents associated with the planning and carrying
out of a terrorist attack document and share this information via a SAR.
The SAR Process
All agencies, regardless of size or jurisdiction, have a role in the nationwide SAR process. It is
essential that state, local, tribal, and federal agencies establish standardized SAR programs
and work together to share SAR information in order to prevent and deter terrorist attacks
on American soil. There are five basic cornerstones to implementing the SAR process:
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intelligence guide for first responders - 2nd edition | how to
• Stakeholder management - Knowing, understanding, and communicating with all
stakeholders is key to success. The chief executive and agency leadership must recognize
the importance of implementing a SAR process within their agency and champion the
efforts of the SAR process and the NSI both inside and outside the agency. Outreach
to the community is being done through an initiative called, Building Communities
of Trust and is also being done in collaboration with the “If you see something,
say something” campaign launched by the Department of Homeland Security in
July 2010.
• Training – The NSI training strategy is a multifaceted approach designed to increase
the effectiveness of state, local, and tribal law enforcement professionals in
identifying, reporting, evaluating, and sharing pre-incident terrorism indicators to
prevent acts of terrorism. The overarching goal of the training strategy is to facilitate
agency implementation of the SAR process, ensure the inclusion of civil rights, civil
liberties and privacy safeguards, and to enhance a nationwide SAR capability. There