(Jones, Kowalk and Miller, 2000) The following is an example of these classifications. Figure 1

Risk Assessment Matrix

Source: Jones, Kowalk and Miller (2000)

III. PUBLIC SECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES

The critical incident management plan is important in the community response provided and this includes the response of emergency responders, police officers, the fire departments as well as others who are involved in such plans. The first duty of the public sector is to maintain community safety. (Jones, Kowalk and Miller, 2000) It is important that the critical incident management plan "define situations where public policy or legal mandates require public sector intervention even though the private sector has ample resources to handle the event." (Jones, Kowalk and Miller, 2000)

IV. THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS)

The incident command system (ICS) has been adopted by many jurisdictions and endorsed by law enforcement and fire services. ICS is stated to establish "an organized and structured approach to taking charge of a critical incident and coordinating resources to resolve the matter." (Jones, Kowalk and Miller, 2000) Joint planning is necessary to "ensure that the incident commander is aware of all available private/public resources." (Jones, Kowalk and Miller, 2000) The plan requires...

This requires that the public sector develop and 'incident management team' (IMT). The private sector crisis management team (CMT) structure is illustrated in the following figure.
Figure 2

Private Sector Crisis Management Team (CMT) Structure

Source: Jones, Kowalk and Miller (2000)

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

It is critically important that the CMT work in close alliance with those in the emergency responder capacity including law enforcement and other local officials in the event of a critical incident however, it is just as important that communities and local law enforcement work together with the private sector in developing an incident command system that is effective in providing response in critical incidents that may occur.

REFERENCES

Jones, R.W., Kowalk, M.A. And Miller, P.P. (2000) Critical Incident Protocol -- A Public and Private Partnership (2000) Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Online available at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/cip.pdf

Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management (2008) National Wildfire Coordinating Group. July 2008. Online available at:…