Scenario: Background

The following story is a fictional account of an incident that occurred during the mythical DemocraticRepublican National Convention (DRNC) event in Miami, Florida. The story is loosely based on an amalgamation of real-life occurrences during the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference in Miami, Florida, in 2003. The names of all the characters in the story are fictional. This scenario corresponds with the objectives listed below.

1. Relate the importance of timely and well-documented communications that impact the development of threat assessments and mitigation capabilities.

2. Sufficiently summarize key factors of risk, in terms of stakeholders, approaches, methods, and influencing factors that impact risk management.

3. Compare and contrast the pros and cons of organizational culture and its influence on risk identification and mitigation.

Assignment Instructions

For this assignment, you are to play the role of ASAC Samantha Salerno as the Chairperson, and Lead Federal Coordinator for the Security and Public Safety Subcommittee (refer to Attachment 2). Based on the input provided to you by the vulnerability assessment team and the threat assessment team, your committee has completed an overall risk analysis of the critical infrastructure assets within the DRNC's Area of Operations (Attachment 1).

Your job is to set broad policy so that the operational planners for the event can begin to set specific tactics, and purchase the necessary supplies and equipment in order to mitigate the risk factors during the event. You are to prepare a written report directed to Mr. Horace Copeland, DRNC Host Committee Chairperson (no less than 750 words, and no more than 2,000 words) that addresses the following issues/questions:

1. What are the highest anticipated risks in the DRNC Area of Operations during the week-long event, and how did you arrive at this conclusion? Briefly explain the methodology and sources upon which you relied on to make these conclusions.2. Based on your risk analysis, what types of policy would you implement, and where would you place emphasis in order to minimize and mitigate risk during the DRNC event? Take into consideration all the likely stakeholders and what their concerns are likely to be. Briefly explain your rationale.

3. In your report, take into consideration the past conflicts between the Miami-Dade Police Department and the City of Miami Police Department during the FTAA Conference disturbances of 2003. Compare and contrast the pros and cons of organizational cultures of these two agencies and explain how differences in organizational culture could influence risk identification and mitigation leading up to the DRNC event planning. What steps can be taken to eliminate, or at least minimize this conflict?