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Center for Public Health Preparedness

Both law enforcement and public health agencies are at the forefront of dealing with the issue of bioterrorism, yet coordination between these two groups can be haphazard and inconsistent. Fostering cooperation and joint development of training can maximize the quantity and quality of information available to these two groups having such great responsibility for responding to threats of public health and safety.

Through the Traffic Safety Center, we have developed extensive ties to the California Highway Patrol and to other enforcement agencies in California. Building on these ties, we propose efforts directed at developing and delivering bioterrorism preparedness training to these personnel. Therefore, as part of the UC Berkeley Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness (UCBCIDP), we will conduct or facilitate the following activities:

• Develop and enhance relationships between public health and law enforcement. To accomplish this we will convene a planning group with the CHP (which sits on the external Advisory Board of the TSC) and UCBCIDP to review and explore collaboration and information sharing between public and law enforcement agencies in California in particular and Region 9 in general.
• Work with the CHP to conduct an assessment of law enforcement training needs statewide around infectious disease and public safety. This assessment will focus on public health best practices needed by law enforcement personnel around infectious disease occupational exposures and bioterrorism events.
• Work with the CHP to develop training modules for law enforcement officers, to be delivered through the CHP Training Academy, statewide law enforcement conferences, and selected law enforcement academies in Region 9. These modules will be based on and planning meetings between the UCBCIDP and the CHP and information identified from the needs assessment.
• Work with the CHP and with public health agencies to incorporate integration of law enforcement information on hazardous materials into public health training.
• Work with the CHP to continually monitor (i) training needs by law enforcement and (ii) law enforcement information that should be incorporated into public health training, in both cases to maintain readiness for responding to bioterrorism, and other public health threats and emergencies.
• Work with the CHP to develop methods for evaluating training, including tests of knowledge and behavior, for responding to bioterrorism, infectious disease, and other public health threats and emerging infections.
• Sponsor a statewide (or Region 9) forum on public health/enforcement/transportation coordination for preparedness.