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DeStefano on Public Safety
and Hometown Security
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Celebrating the Puerto Rican Day Parade with law enforcement officials, John DeStefano understands the increasingly complex challenges that local communities face on public safety issues. |
John DeStefano, Jr. understands that the key to national and state Homeland Security is Hometown Security. Connecticut's cities and towns are the first defense against terrorist attacks or other disasters. Our local police, fire and emergency medical services are the very first responders to traumatic events and disastrous occurrences. Therefore, local cities and towns need the money, equipment and training, and state level support to properly function in large-scale emergency situations.
The federal budget for fiscal year 2005 provides $5 billion for state and local responders. Connecticut provides 80% of it $32 million federal grant to cities and towns, of which there are 169 municipalities.
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“John recognizes that in order for Connecticut's public safety and homeland security to indeed be safe and secure, timely and efficient, a number of facets of homeland security must be streamlined.”
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Because Connecticut is not divided into a county system, nor does it have strong regional bodies, the 169 municipalities must compete for state-provided homeland security monies. The state must consider local needs when dividing homeland security money across the state, and not just be a funder, but an added resource for cities and town to use for support and guidance on how to effectively use grant money and be best prepared to provide quality hometown security.
John recognizes that in order for Connecticut's public safety and homeland security to indeed be safe and secure, timely and efficient, a number of facets of homeland security must be streamlined:
- The state must take into account local input when allotting federal homeland security funds. Also, allowing for more local control of homeland security finances would result in a more targeted, efficient use.
- Additionally, the state must recognize and understand community need when providing equipment. Currently, the state determines the community's equipment needs and then provides the equipment, rather than providing money to the locality to buy their equipment.
- Local first responders like police and fire departments must staff a number of over-time hours when the nation's threat level is elevated, but the state reimbursement turnaround is terribly slow. This puts an added strain on our communities and it must be addressed.
- Coordination across the state is difficult, time-consuming, and leaves out key constituencies. Therefore, the state should support a more formalized, regional organizational structure to provide mutual aid and accurate and timely information.
- It is essential that first responders across the state be equipped to understand and be able to help citizens cope with the psychological impact of trauma.
- On a national level, it would be extremely helpful to receive more localized information to determine the threat to the state and to cities and towns, and implement the necessary precautions.
- There are major gaps in federal funding which the state should address. There is no money for local infrastructure, which often is essential to fully secure a city or town. Such infrastructure modifications are not deemed an eligible expense and force cities and town to further tap their strapped local budget.
Local police chiefs, fire chiefs and emergency medical directors are the key individuals who understand the pressures and requirements of the cities and town to provide effective homeland security. It is essential that these individuals be brought to the state table and share their breadth of input regarding local needs - monetary, personnel, and infrastructure, as well as the need for greater state support as a resource for local safety planning.
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