DHS – Win some, Lose some…
The infamous Department of Homeland Security (US) has its ups and downs,
like all the rest of us. Recently, the DHS shelled out 18
million dollars to install security equipment in Indianapolis in order to help local law enforcement securing the Circle City for the Super Bowl. A lot of the equipment has now been left behind, and can be put to other uses now that the circus is over for this year. Computer systems, a control center and gear from about 35 different federal 3-letter abbreviations are included in the package.
According to TheIndyChannel.com;
The digital technology from the FBI and 32 other federal agencies will also have law enforcement applications. Metro police can input real time crime incidents into the equipment and the digital technology can recognize and analyze developing crime trends and tell police where they should deploy officers.
While the use of computers to analyze crime trends is still a developing field, the tech will certainly help Indiana keep a check on their
rowdier citizens. However, the equipment isn’t just for catching criminals – it can be used to help in a catastrophe as well.
The Department of Public Safety also will keep a surveillance network of 85 downtown cameras and all of the technology assets in the new $18 million regional operations center, including homeland security software programs that would have directed the mass evacuation of Lucas Oil Stadium in under 30 minutes.
Evacuating Lucas Oil Stadium means evacuating 67,000 people. Which is a lot of people. Obviously.
While the DHS is leaving behind millions of dollars in security equipment, the city of Fort Wayne has decided to kick them out entirely. In what appears to be a surprise decision, the mayor of Fort Wayne has written to the DHS and announced that the city will discontinue their participation in the sharing of the cost for a local DHS office.
From HomelandSecurityNewswire:
After six years of operation, the joint Fort Wayne-Allen County Homeland Security Department has beendissolved.
Last week Tom Henry, the Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, sent a letter to county officials notifying them of the city’s plans to end its agreement to share in the costs of the local homeland security department.
Henry explained that the decision was made in an attempt to cut costs.
“While the past six years have been a valuable experiment, with the challenges of budget constraints, the city must work to find more effective service solutions for its residents,” Henry wrote.
The decision caught County Commissioner Nelson Peters off guard as he was under the impression that the agreement was working well for both parties.
Well, you win some and you lose some. Give someone 18 million dollars, and they kick you out of the house. It seems. Then again, the DHS, being one of the most scowled on departments of the US government, might not be missed.
About Author
