The recent tragic events of Sept. 11 have troubled our hearts, rallied patriotism, and brought our nation together on a united front. Those events have also forced us to become much more alert to future threats of domestic terrorism in America.
Since the attack, concerned citizens have been questioning our government’s preparedness to respond to a subsequent domestic terrorist attack at the federal, state and local levels. To address this issue, the Minnesota House Judiciary Finance and Crime Prevention committee held a special hearing last week in Minnetonka to hear from federal and state experts on how well Minnesota is equipped to handle threats of domestic terrorism. Testimony was given by the Department of Public Safety, Department of Military Affairs and representatives of the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs’ associations. Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney and the state FBI office director discussed federal agency preparation. Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan also spoke on behalf of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
At the state level, Minnesota has increased precautions for public safety, and is re-assessing current procedures and emergency response protocol. All of the efforts that went into preparing for the potential chaos of Y2K almost two years ago have actually helped in advance to make our Minnesota systems for public safety more prepared for the possibility of domestic terrorism. Advanced techniques in clearing out meth labs have increased our capabilities for hazardous materials disposal.
Communication abilities between agencies have been enhanced by the expanding CriMNet, which links law enforcement agencies through a statewide criminal information network benefitting police and court officers. This uniform statewide information network is modernizing the paper-driven process of law enforcement information sharing, while providing an extra layer of protection between criminals and the public.
But while Minnesota has a solid base on which to build, there is still some vulnerability. Future meetings are being planned to further discuss this issue, and to consider any additional precautionary measures necessary for the next session which begins on Jan. 29. In light of the added public safety needs, Rep. Rich Stanek, chair of the Judiciary Finance Committee, has committed to hear supplemental budget requests from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and other key law enforcement agencies to address these concerns.
Rep. Stanek, an 18-year veteran police officer, stated that since the attack on the east coast, “We all have new responsibilities.” While we must not live in fear, we must live in a state of heightened awareness. Every citizen must be aware and alert, and we must support those who ensure our safety and enforce our policies in every way we can.
Mark Olson (R-Big Lake) serves House District 19A which includes Annandale, Corinna Township and some other area townships. He can be reached at 651-296-4237.
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