Terrorism and Organized Hate Crime: Intelligence Gathering, Analysis, and Investigations

The ability of law enforcement agencies to manage and act upon intelligence is the key to countering terrorism. Likewise, a critical foundation of intelligence-led policing is the proper analysis of all information gained. Terrorism and Organized Hate Crime: Intelligence Gathering, Analysis, and Investigations, Fourth Edition demonstrates how to recognize the indicators of an impending act of terrorism or mass violence, how to deter an attack, and how to transform information into intelligence to meet community demands for safety and security.

The Fourth Edition has been completely updated and expanded to cover numerous topics facing those tasked with investigating and thwarting terrorism and the terrorist acts throughout the world today. Many investigators have sought to understand the growth of the radical extremist and terrorist organization ranks. The Fourth Edition dedicates an expanded new chapter to the concerns and processes centering on radicalization and recruitment. This new chapter covers such in-depth topics like: criminal roots, gang connection, conversion, causes of extremism, models of recruitment and radicalization including self-radicalization, recruiting in the digital age, social media, youth targeting, prison radicalization and recruitment, legal concerns, case studies and groups, as well as what can be done to prevent recruitment. In addition to the new chapter, there is a new guide to sources of information for investigators and expanded discussion on IRA tactics and ISIS.

Using techniques applicable to the private and the public sector, the book combines academic, research, and practitioner perspectives to establish a protocol for effectively gathering, analyzing, investigating, and disseminating criminal intelligence. Additional overage includes the role of fusion centers, terrorism financing, the handling of classified materials, the National Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative as well as pre-incident indicators and behavioral traits associated with terrorism.

A one-stop resource for the homeland security, intelligence analyst, and investigative professional, the book arms those tasked with protecting the public with a solid blueprint for combating and investigating crimes associated with terrorism and hate. Also widely used as a core text, Terrorism and Organized Hate Crime, Fourth Edition teaches practical applications to those students enrolled in such courses as Terrorism and Hate Crimes, Violence and Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, Terrorism and Political Violence, and Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Major (honorably retired as of April 2010) Michael Ronczkowski served the citizens of Miami-Dade County Florida and Miami-Dade Police Department for nearly 27 years. He rose through all the Civil Service Ranks serving as a Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain before his appointment to Major in the spring of 2006. His assignments consisted of 19 years of investigations to include; burglary, auto theft, assault, robbery, fugitives and homeland security which included the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Major Ronczkowski retired after serving four years as the Department’s Homeland Security Bureau Commander and Director of the Miami-Dade Fusion Center a DHS recognized center that he initiated. He commanded and managed 80 multi-discipline personnel on homeland security and terrorism-related investigations at the Fusion Center which served South Florida. Major Ronczkowski also served as the Chair of the County’s Terrorism Advisory Committee (TAC), member of the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force (SERDSTF), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program and Urban Area Work Group (UAWG) board member for Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, and Major Cities Chiefs Association Intelligence Commanders Group advisor. He also maintained high level national security clearances and credentials with the Miami Office of the FBI JTTF. Major Ronczkowski has testified before both the U.S. Senate and Congress on matters related to Islamic Extremism and Emergency Response.

Major Ronczkowski holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University as well as being a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, Session 217. He is the author of several publications to include two text books published with CRC Press titled Terrorism and Organized Hate Crime and co-author of the article Tactical / Investigative Analysis of Targeted Crimes, published by the National Institute of Justice in the Advanced Crime Mapping Topics book sponsored by the Crime Mapping and Analysis Program as well as three contributing articles for various encyclopedias. Major Ronczkowski is also an established instructor on matters related to homeland security, intelligence, analysis, and a certified GIS instructor with ESRI. He served eight years as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University teaching terrorism and has been an instructor for the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis for nearly 10 years.