Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
The DCJS Office of Homeland Security (OHS) provides a link in the Commonwealth’s preparedness strategy chain focusing on the law enforcement community. Key office responsibilities include developing a conduit for law enforcement leaders to express needs and concerns as they relate to homeland security and emergency management, Homeland Security Grant Program synchronization, National Incident Management System (NIMS) implementation, preparedness planning, training coordination, and liaison to federal and state agencies working to ensure our nation and the Commonwealth are prepared and secure.
The LCAG meets a need identified by police chiefs and sheriffs during the January 2007 Stakeholders’ Meeting for a law enforcement leadership group to convene regularly, focusing on four primary objectives:
LCAG Chairman: Charlie Phelps, Sheriff of Isle of Wight County
LCAG Vice Chairman: Phil Broadfoot, City of Danville Chief of Police
Download an overview of the Law Enforcement Advisory Group (.ppt, 7 slides)
NIMS implementation tips are published weekly by the NIMS Integration Center and are available at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_compliance.shtm.
The Commonwealth of Virginia ICS Job Aid, a joint effort of the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Emergency Management, with over 25,000 copies distributed to date, has proven to be highly popular as well as useful among Virginia’s emergency response community. It has been copied by nine other states and is the foundation for the DHS version currently under development. Copies are available in any VDEM or DCJS sponsored ICS course or by contacting our office.
Developed as a result of our findings during a recent gap analysis of state level planning, this Fact Sheet (.pdf, 5 pages) serves as a concise reminder of resources available to support local law enforcement agencies and provides tips on how to obtain those assets.
Sam Hoffman is Coordinator of the OHS program. He may be reached at 804.225.3899 or by e-mail. The address for OHS is as follows:
Office of Homeland Security
Department of Criminal Justice Services
Law Enforcement Services Section
202 N. 9th Street, 10th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219