PrintOctober 23, 2010
Terrorist Cop
Review of Terrorist Cop, by Detective Mordecai Dzikansky and Robert Slater
Ever since 9/11/01, Americans (as well as most of the Western world) are coming to a terrified conclusion: that their home front is precipitously vulnerable to Islamic terror attacks. As Islamic jihadists literally explode all over the globe, most have felt a wide range of emotions, swinging from fear to outrage, while searching for answers to questions like why are they targeting us? and what do they want? At the same time, few have been able to escape the welling feeling of hopelessness, wondering if their countries will ever be able to beat back the seemingly never-ending onslaught from Islamic jihadists.
Leave it to the out-of-the-box thinking of the head of the NYPD (New York Police Department) to come to the rescue, at least as far as securing New York City, to a degree unprecedented in law enforcement. To this end, after witnessing the horrific attacks of 9/11/01, Police Commissioner Michael Kelly decided to take the offensive, not satisfied to leave New York City's counter-terror activities to the Feds. He (rightfully) concluded that sharing intelligence was not their strong suit, as layers of obstacles exist between the many competing agencies. Commissioner Kelly instinctively realized that time was of the essence and that he had to act. And act he did.
Therefore, he put into effect New York City's first ever Counter Terror Unit, operating both inside New York City and outside its borders. In a particularly brilliant strategic move, he also decided to station several of New York City's best detectives at overseas posts, sites chosen based on their levels of Islamic terror activity.
To wit, from 2003 through the beginning of 2008, Detective Mordecai "Morty" Dzikansy, Homicide Detective, First Grade, was sent to the first ever posting in Tel Aviv, Israel. His task was to set up shop, interface (with the Israeli National Police), collect intel, and otherwise react to terror events as they occurred.
Much to his credit, Commissioner Kelly understood that to learn from the experts how best to fight Islamic terrorists necessitated sending one of New York's finest to the best laboratory in the world -- Israel.
Not only did Detective Dzikansky end up responding to over two dozen terror attacks in Israel, but he was also sent all over the world to respond to attacks, to access whatever information he could gather to help secure New York City.
Having officially retired from the force in 2008, he is now a consultant to law enforcement, industry, and others in the world of counter-terror. Most recently, a book on his life (tracing how a son of a rabbi came to be an NYPD cop) and exploits has been released for publication. Terrorist Cop, written by Mordecai Dzikansky and Robert Slater, is a must-read for all those interested in learning, up close and personal, the effects of Islamic terror on the home front and what is being done to beat them back, thus securing each and every one of us. Moreover, there is a detailed chapter, called "Lessons Learned," which is a practical guide for law enforcement, security officials, and industry persons who desire to know what else can be done to protect their communities and their businesses.
Most importantly for readers, three highly respected and acclaimed experts in the field of counter-terror enthusiastically endorse Terrorist Cop. Steven Emerson, Executive Director of Investigative Projects on Terrorism; Dr. Boaz Ganor, Deputy Dean of the Lauder School of Government and Diplomacy of the Interdisciplinary Center at Herzliya, Israel, as well as Founder and Executive Director of the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT); and Professor Bruce Hoffman, Director of the Center for Peace and Security and author of Inside Terrorism, applaud Terrorist Cop as an important addition to the West's battle against Islamic terror.
(Full disclosure: I am proud to state that the author of Terrorist Cop is my brother)
