Fourth Generation Warfare Tactics: Are Police Operationally Ready?
Abstract
As some security scholars recognize, we are now into the 4th generation of warfare evolution. Although police traditionally have not been at the frontline of warfare activities, the latest generational viewis departing from that long-held position and is critically impacting the tactics of police operations. Armed forces and law enforcement have been slowly adapting to this latest shift, but it is not clear if the operational readiness is at a level needed to meet the newest challenges that have developed in this latest phase of a warfare activity. This paper addresses the implications of these changes and what role police ops may need to play in the adjustment of security strategies in the new generational view. Modalities of the shift will identified and a review of current policing relevancies in relation to the new generational developments will be explored and investigated. In particular, comparative features of reactive police ops versus interdiction ops will be applied to the requirements of the new generational characteristics. Finally, a summary of new initiatives and recommendations will be discussed as well as resource allocations needed to meet the latest challenges.