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Office of Homeland Security
 The most important function of Homeland Security is to keep Clevelanders and visitors safe in the event of a critical incident, such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
The City of Cleveland has adopted the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) in order to convey information about the risk of terrorist acts. This system was developed by the US Department of Homeland Security to classify the perceived level of risk of terrorist acts on American soil. Different colored levels signify risk levels, as seen in the chart to the left.
Individuals and business should be prepared to take action based on the current HSAS level. There are detailed charts showing recommended emergency action steps for:
Terrorist Activities
Key to protecting the community from terrorists is awareness. In addition to knowing what a terrorist incident is, it is important to understand the types of activity which necessitate police involvement.
Terrorism Awareness and Prevention (TAP)
TAP presentations are available for groups including factories and other businesses, schools, block clubs, and community organizations. For more information, call the Cleveland Division of Police Homeland Security Office at 216.664.7171.
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Terrorism Prevention and Awareness |
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The assistance of every Clevelander is critical to keeping neighborhoods safe. Knowing what to look for and being aware of what is going on forms the basis of an effective terrorism prevention program. Residents and those who work in Cleveland should take note of the following to ensure safety: |
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- Awareness of surroundings: the nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning
- Travel precautions: no luggage should be left unattended, nor should packages be accepted from strangers
- Unusual activity: conspicuous behavior, unusual activity, suspicious packages, and strange devices should be reported to police or other security personnel
- Intuition: feeling strange or unusual could warrant exiting an area or situation
- Exit planning: all should be aware of the emergency exit locations within buildings they frequent. It is also important to note stairway locations, and heavy or breakable objects that could cause harm if falling or breaking in an explosion.
- Be prepared: additional information here
- Safety equipment: fire extinguisher use and locations are important, as well as the location and availability of hard hats in often-frequented buildings
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Activities Warranting Police Involvement |
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These activities should be reported to the Cleveland Police at 216.621.1234:
- Surveillance – monitoring activities, taking notes, using cameras, maps or binoculars
- Suspicious questioning - attempting to gain information in person, by phone or e-mail regarding a key facility or its personnel
- Tests of security - attempting to penetrate the security system or test security procedures
- Acquiring supplies – illegal acquisition of explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, uniforms, badges, flight manuals, access or ID cards for a key facility or to legally obtain items (that could be used in a terrorist attack) under suspicious circumstances
- Suspicious persons- persons who do not appear to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, business establishment or near a key facility
- Dry runs – preparatory behavior such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios with other people, monitoring key facilities, timing traffic lights or traffic flow
- Deploying assets – abandoned vehicles, stockpiling suspicious materials, or positioning persons near a facility
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