State Journal-Register: Security director lays out agenda (must read)

[Tweed]

http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/48307.asp

"Springfield's nascent homeland security department will have one staff member and a budget just under $100,000, but its director hopes the money can accomplish a lot, including developing an emergency-response manual, creating a command center and capturing federal grants.

Homeland security director Ralph Caldwell, also the No. 2 official at the Springfield Police Department, said if he had his druthers, the city would have a full-time homeland security director and up to 10 staff members. But that was not possible in yet another tight budget year.

Critics say the Springfield City Council has created an unnecessary bureaucracy sure to expand in years to come. With Mayor Tim Davlin breaking a tie, aldermen Tuesday narrowly killed an amendment that would have eliminated the department's $98,051 budget for the fiscal year that begins March 1.

The department will help the city seek new homeland security grants made available by the federal government."

It seems like the Springfield Police Department was doing a fine job of preventing terrorism. At least that's how it was when I lived there. Plus, how effective is a one person department? I'm sure this isn't the only one-man homeland security office in the country either.

[Radical Activist]

1. Does Springfield really need to be that worried about terrorism?

It seems kind if silly. The biggest terrorist targets are probably the Lincoln Home or State Capitol Building. Those sites already have their own Federal and State funded security teams.

[Tweed]

2. Yeah, I talked about this on my radio show this past Sunday

What is this one guy going to be able to do if terrorism does strike? How does he make the fire department any more effective at controlling bombings?

The best part is it seems like he is revamping his police office with some stuff that no one was using. It sounds alot like some kid moving to the basement of his house and reorganizing the furniture.