NCJ Number
205096
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 31,33,35
Date Published
February 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
In order to assess domestic security's impact on local law enforcement agencies in Florida, the author designed and distributed an online survey instrument to these agencies for the purpose of obtaining information on their domestic-security needs and performance.
Abstract
Agencies were queried about the number of sworn officers; the number of sworn officers activated for military service after September 11, 2001; Federal and State funding received for domestic security since September 11, 2001; the impact of domestic security issues on the agency budget; whether the agency has hired additional personnel to handle domestic security issues; whether the agency has reassigned personnel to handle domestic security issues; the number of overtime hours spent on domestic security over the past year; the number of training hours per officer per year for domestic security; and whether the agency is better prepared to handle domestic security issues. One hundred percent of the agencies that responded to the survey had received some type of domestic security training. Almost 50 percent of the responding agencies have reassigned personnel to handle domestic security issues. The reasignments led to additional overtime hours for more than half of the agencies. The agencies had an average of two officers activated for military service since September 11, 2001. Although 94 percent of the agencies believed they were better prepared to deal with domestic security issues since September 11, 2001, overall the responses to the survey indicated that funding must be forthcoming for law enforcement agencies to respond to new areas of responsibility for domestic security. Without it, there will continue to be understaffed agencies that lack the training to handle domestic security issues. Additional funding for equipment, overtime, personnel, and training would service these agencies well and ensure that they will be able to respond effectively to the domestic security needs of their communities. Funding from the Federal Government will flow to State and certain key cities to implement the national preparedness plan, but this will not be sufficient to finance completely homeland security efforts locally. Local communities must make difficult financial decisions regarding funding for domestic security, and every effort must be made to encourage local private and government entities to increase the amounts allotted in their budgets for security.