A few weeks ago there was a bombing at the Boston Marathon. It seems we know who the two individuals directly involved are. That is to say, those who planted the bomb. And it has prompted many to feign outrage over how this could happen. Just how could “they” have allowed these two terrorists to plant and detonate bombs. Of course, the “they” being referred to is authorities, collectively.
The FBI, ATF, CIA, Boston police, Homeland security, and/or possibly other “authorities”. The truth is, how could we expect our “protectors” to catch it? It is widely believed that law enforcement has the ability to catch all things bad, and specifically, all things terrorist. They cannot. Most certainly, our law enforcement is arguably the best on the planet.
The experts have such technology, training, knowledge and experience over the past 60 years that we have witnessed a long line of cases solved, many before detonation, some shortly after. However, in a world full of imperfection we can surmise that our law enforcement agencies will fall within that same range. Imperfect. Even with wiretaps, surveillance, the proliferation of video cameras and cell phone cameras and recorders we cannot expect our authorities to be perfect.
While the joint forces that tracked the most recent culprits and brought them to justice quickly by any standards, it was still not in time to save an eight year old, among others, from the horrors of home-made incendiary devices designed to kill.
To be sure, Americans still remain relatively safe even in this day and age of the sporadic terror some are intent to inflict upon us. Law enforcement efforts to keep us safe have largely been successful. But for the victims of any such terror, no consolation exists. Law enforcement needs to be perfect. At least that appears to be the cry from the crowd who says “why didn’t law enforcement follow Tamerlan after Russia indicated that he was acting “strange”?” or “how do these two get to make bombs without it coming to the attention of law enforcement?” The answer is we live in a free society, and in order to keep it free we must endure our citizens exercising certain rights, no matter how repugnant. Our law enforcement will have its hands tied, along with the blind eye of justice when it comes across a suspect with no evidence, or one who has not actually attempted, nor has shown the intent to attempt a crime.
Providing security for the public in a free society is a daunting task. Our law enforcement has to be everywhere, all at once. It is expected not only to catch the criminal, but keep him from harming a single soul ever, all without violating anyone’s civil rights or the constitution. The reality is instead of complaining about the imperfections in our law enforcement communities, we need to become uniquely aware of our own surroundings and provide law enforcement with the support necessary that only we in our own neighborhoods can provide. And sometimes even that won’t be enough. Because in the end, law enforcement needs to be perfect. The terrorist need only strike successful once.
Greg Hollis is the president/CEO of Trinity Protection Services.
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