Date

9-17-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Jarrod Sadulski

Keywords

Transformational leadership, terrorism, complex coordinated terrorist attack, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosives, training, equipment

Disciplines

Leadership Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

Complex coordinated terrorist attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) elements, along with active shooter threats, pose significant challenges for first-responding law enforcement officers. Responding to active threats where civilian lives are at immediate risk of serious injury or death requires an immediate, decisive response from the initial officers on the scene. When responders learn that perpetrators have dispersed one or more CBRNE-related weapons during an ongoing violent spree, on-site law enforcement personnel must be appropriately trained and adequately equipped to quickly and decisively confront and neutralize the attacker(s). Because prolonged federal CBRNE response assets can be delayed for hours, local law enforcement first responders must be prepared and equipped to neutralize active assailants amid a potentially CBRNE-saturated scene. This research uses a qualitative methodology, including multiple descriptive case studies and semi-structured interviews with local law enforcement leaders in the State of Washington, to assess front-line personnel readiness to respond to a complex, coordinated terrorist attack involving CBRNE-related weapons within their jurisdictions. The results of this study indicate that local law enforcement personnel require more CBRNE-related preparedness and response training, advanced equipment, and synthesized, multi-jurisdictional response policies and tactics to address, confront, and neutralize complex, coordinated, terrorism-related attackers. The federal government must take swift and decisive steps to ensure that every local law enforcement agency understands the localized risks of terrorism-related events, provides meaningful support, including access to training and funding for personal protective equipment, and facilitates more opportunities to forge collaborative partnerships with federal response personnel.

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