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.
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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.
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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.
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Line Officer Training―Frontline law enforcement personnel are trained to recognize behavior 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. To efficiently deliver training to a large number of line officers in a timely manner,
this training is delivered through a 15-minute CD that has been posted to several online/distance-learning
formats. Officers may view the CD free of charge from LEAPS.TV, which is the Law Enforcement and Public Safety
channel for law enforcement and public safety officers serving police, sheriff, constable, fire/rescue,
emergency medical services, emergency management, homeland and border security, corrections, and related areas.
You may view the SAR Line Officer Training CD on
LEAPS.TV.
Please contact the fusion center in your jurisdiction to learn about additional SAR training opportunities for
line officers.
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The Memorial Institute for Preventing Terrorism (MIPT) is able to provide 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 that is the core of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR)
Initiative (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) 278-6319 or training@mipt.org. Additional information can be found
on the MIPT Web site.
For more information regarding NSI training, please submit your request using our Contact Us form.
