The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) training strategy is a multifaceted
approach designed to increase the effectiveness of state, local, and tribal law enforcement professionals
in identifying, reporting, evaluating, and sharing pre-incident terrorism indicators to prevent acts of
terrorism. The overarching goal of the training strategy is to facilitate agency implementation of the
SAR process and to enhance a nationwide SAR capability. The strategy involves three separate but
coordinated training initiatives targeting law enforcement professionals with varying duties and
responsibilities―agency executives, analytic/investigative personnel, and line officers.
Analytic Training―Ensuring that SARs are properly reviewed and vetted is
critical to promoting the integrity of information submitted; protecting citizens’ privacy, civil rights, and civil
liberties; and successfully implementing the SAR process. The SAR Analytic Role Training focuses on the evaluation
of SARs to identify behaviors that may be associated with pre-incident terrorism planning and the process for sharing
terrorism-related SARs nationwide. Through this curriculum, analysts and investigators are trained to recognize
terrorism-related pre-incident indicators and to validate—based on a combination of knowledge, experience, and
available information—whether the behavior has a potential nexus to terrorism and meets criteria for submission.
The training is delivered in an eight-hour workshop format.
Executive Briefings―Law enforcement executives play a vital role in ensuring
that the SAR process is not only successfully implemented but effectively supported. The SAR Executive Briefings
focus on executive leadership, policy development, privacy and civil liberties protections, agency training, and
community outreach. Fusion centers, law enforcement professional associations, and additional entities conduct these
types of briefings in a variety of venues.
For more information about NSI Program Management Office training programs, please contact
nsiinformation@ncirc.gov.
Line Officer Training―Frontline law enforcement personnel are trained
to recognize behaviors and incidents that may indicate criminal activity associated with terrorism. Their routine
duties position them to observe and report suspicious behaviors or activities. The SAR Line Officer Training
focuses on the critical role line officers have in the effective implementation of the SAR process by identifying
and documenting suspicious activity.
MIPT provides on-site training to your agency regarding suspicious activity reporting. InCOP 1, the first of the
four courses, builds upon and reinforces the processes and policies for gathering, documenting, processing, analyzing,
and sharing information about terrorism-related suspicious activities, which is the core of the NSI. MIPT has been
designated as one of the official providers of this training, with InCOP being approved by both the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Justice. Any agency seeking SAR MIPT training may contact
MIPT at (405) 278-6329
or training@mipt.org. Additional information can be found on the
MIPT Web site.
Please contact the fusion center in your jurisdiction to learn about additional SAR training opportunities for line officers.
