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Homeland Security panel seeks to create terrorism prevention center
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By BOB WATSON
News Tribune
Using from 20-30 current state employees, now working in different agencies, Missouri's new Homeland Security Advisory Council wants to launch a terrorism prevention center.
"By co-locating existing (analysts) under one roof, and getting them talking with each other and sharing information," said state Public Safety Director Mark James, "we believe it would greatly enhance our ability to identify potential activity, be it criminal or terrorist activity."
The idea is different from the current State Emergency Management Agency's communications center, which is activated only after an emergency occurs.
"This would be a center that is operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week," James explained. "We're not waiting on the disaster to occur."
Although the center eventually might need more funding, James said it could be started for little or no additional expense.
A similar "information fusion center" was proposed by the Holden administration, and James said there's no need to redo everything from the last three years. But a homeland security plan constantly should be reviewed, he said.
Each state agency will review the current preparedness plan and identify good ideas to keep, modify or replace, James said, and "new initiatives (that) need to be added to the overall strategy."
Wednesday's meeting was the advisory council's first, after Gov. Matt Blunt wants the 17-member task force to give him a new preparedness plan proposal by Jan. 1, 2006.
Council member Mick Covington, who also heads the Missouri Sheriffs Association, said the center will be a good first step.
"I think anyone that would stand before you and tell you that (a terrorist attack) is not going to happen again in the United States is a fool," he said. "It's going to happen.
"It's just a matter of we don't know where and we don't know when."
James said there's been no specific alert about a potential attack, so Missourians should be "generally aware" of -- but not overly concerned about -- the possibility of a terrorism act in the state.
Wednesday's first advisory council meeting was closed to the public and media, so panel members could get a detailed Highway Patrol report on "activities of organizations and persons who have been well-known to law enforcement, who potentially pose a threat if given certain circumstances," James said. "We have to be vigilant ... when those types of groups decide to step outside the law and engage in criminal activity."
bwatson@newstribune.com
"By co-locating existing (analysts) under one roof, and getting them talking with each other and sharing information," said state Public Safety Director Mark James, "we believe it would greatly enhance our ability to identify potential activity, be it criminal or terrorist activity."
The idea is different from the current State Emergency Management Agency's communications center, which is activated only after an emergency occurs.
"This would be a center that is operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week," James explained. "We're not waiting on the disaster to occur."
Although the center eventually might need more funding, James said it could be started for little or no additional expense.
A similar "information fusion center" was proposed by the Holden administration, and James said there's no need to redo everything from the last three years. But a homeland security plan constantly should be reviewed, he said.
Each state agency will review the current preparedness plan and identify good ideas to keep, modify or replace, James said, and "new initiatives (that) need to be added to the overall strategy."
Wednesday's meeting was the advisory council's first, after Gov. Matt Blunt wants the 17-member task force to give him a new preparedness plan proposal by Jan. 1, 2006.
Council member Mick Covington, who also heads the Missouri Sheriffs Association, said the center will be a good first step.
"I think anyone that would stand before you and tell you that (a terrorist attack) is not going to happen again in the United States is a fool," he said. "It's going to happen.
"It's just a matter of we don't know where and we don't know when."
James said there's been no specific alert about a potential attack, so Missourians should be "generally aware" of -- but not overly concerned about -- the possibility of a terrorism act in the state.
Wednesday's first advisory council meeting was closed to the public and media, so panel members could get a detailed Highway Patrol report on "activities of organizations and persons who have been well-known to law enforcement, who potentially pose a threat if given certain circumstances," James said. "We have to be vigilant ... when those types of groups decide to step outside the law and engage in criminal activity."
bwatson@newstribune.com
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