Calgary Police Service hosts Counter-Terrorism Conference

For the third year, the Calgary Police Service is hosting its Counter-Terrorism Conference, bringing together international law enforcement and counter-terrorism and radicalization experts.

This two-day, high-level forum, which began today, aims to examine violent extremism, investigations, recruitment, intervention and the role of women in terrorism across the globe. Working together and sharing best practices is critical to ensuring law enforcement is at the forefront of the issue.

Highlights of the conference include a first-hand account by Chief Jarrod Burguan of the San Bernardino Police Department on the Dec. 2, 2015, mass shooting in his city which was classified as a terrorist attack.

The crime garnered worldwide media interest as it was determined to be one of the largest terrorist inspired acts on United States soil since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Fourteen people were killed and 22 were wounded.

Commissioner Rob Out of the Netherlands National Police, who is also the agency’s counter terrorism, extremism and radicalization leader, will share the Dutch model of countering violent extremism and the importance of early prevention.

Experts from Public Safety Canada, the New York Police Department, the Asia Pacific Foundation and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) will also share their expertise to the crowd of roughly 350 law enforcement and security professionals.