DRNC Forensics Workgroup Planning

DRNC Forensics Workgroup Planning

It is the duty of this committee to set up sufficient security and forensic measures, while still ensuring "that the event continues safely and at the same time respect Constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and assembly" (Connors, 2007). Because of the highly controversy own nature of politics in the United States today, this will be a calculated effort. Undoubtedly, there will be issues with law enforcement dealing with protesters. The forensics task force must then be fully equipped to investigate any crimes committed sufficiently to produce evidence that can convict individuals later in a court of law.

To get started, it is important to understand what agencies are per feeding and how they will need to contribute their services at the time of the event. For planning purposes, it is important to set these responsibilities as early as possible to ensure that those responsible for early action conduct their responsibilities before the event actually starts. The security commission has elected Ms. Cassandra Armand as its chair of the DRNC's Committee on Arrangements (COA). Therefore, it is Ms. Armand who is responsible for tabulating and defraying the cost of CSI to all the participating agencies working with local Miami Dade police on handling security for the event. Ms. Armand will need to order all supplies and equipment in advance to ensure that the local and federal agencies have everything they need at the time of the event to coordinate forensic investigations of crimes committed. All supplies and equipment need to be allocated to the various agencies before the event even starts. Then, any agencies that need additional resources can go to Ms. Armand in order to secure whatever it is they need while they are investigating in the field. Funding for resource allocation can come from both federal assistance and funding provided to Florida by the Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP), which has provided over $13 million in law enforcement funding since 2001 (Domestic Security Oversight Council, 2012). Ms. Armand will order supplies as she sees fit after a careful analysis of past events in the Miami-Dade area, like previous Republican convention and the Super Bowl.

Since the Miami-Dade Police has been designated as the lead local agency and lead operational planner for the event security, it will also take on the primary responsibility of heading and directing the overall forensic task force. Thus, the Miami-Dade Police Department along with the Miami Police Department will be actively involved in providing officers and resources for the forensics task force at the event. Still, it is the job of the planning committee to structure a chain of command in order to allow the participating agencies to work seamlessly together and thus provide the most effective forensic services at the time of the event. This is a massive event. Therefore, there is a larger need to take on a number of participating agencies in order to best protect the sanctity of the forensic team. All CSI activities need to be pooled amongst all of the participating agencies. Ultimately, the CSI activities need to be shared and delegated between the local agencies, such as the Miami Beach, Hialeah, and Coral Gables Police Departments. These agencies can then receive extra assistance and support from federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service.

Yet, U.S. Secret Service has been designated as the lead coordinating agency with overarching statutory authority for the planning and execution of the event. According to the research, "By Presidential directive, the U.S. Secret Service is the lead agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan for the NSSE," (Connors, 2007). At all high level security events around the nation, the U.S. Secret Service participates in this supervisory and authoritative role. As such, the U.S. Secret Service will take over the responsibility for commanding interagency communications and strategies. The U.S. Secret Service will also have the ability to override any potential commands it sees as unfit that are created by the Miami-Dade Police Department. Since members of the U.S. Secret Service also have experience working with forensic investigation in such large and controversial national events, agents from the U.S. Secret Service will also be present during the forensic investigations of crimes committed at this year's event (Naples Security Solutions, 2013). The Special Operations Division typically supplies agents for this supervisory role. Thus, the U.S. Secret Service will also serve a supervisory role in ensuring that all forensics tasks go completed without issues or complications that would potentially damage a future case against criminals. This helps provide strength to the security governance structure here in Miami (Domestic Security Oversight Council, 2012). Additionally, local agencies will benefit from the support and experience of the U.S. Secret Service in handling such large-scale and potentially politically active events.