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News Release
FWC distributes domestic security equipment
August 21, 2007
Contact: Carol Pratt (850) 488-4676 or (850) 251-2212
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement distributed nearly $1 million worth of emergency response equipment today to 24 local law enforcement agency marine units throughout the state. Funding came from a Dept. of Homeland Security grant.
The equipment will bolster the capabilities of Florida’s Regional Domestic Security Task Force Waterborne Response Teams, manned by FWC and local sheriff and police departments from Pensacola to Key West.
The teams carry out security missions for various large-scale waterside events and serve as first responders to critical incidents and natural disasters.
"This statewide response strategy is ideal because we are not creating anything new; we are simply strengthening the existing response capabilities of agencies who are already recognized as well-practiced experts in water rescue and response,” FWC’s Special Operations Coordinator, Maj. Calvin Adams, said.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, Florida has stepped up security for residents and visitors, many of whom are near coastal areas and waterways. Col. Julie Jones, FWC’s director of law enforcement, agreed to coordinate state and local law enforcement efforts to sharpen Florida’s preparedness and response along the coastline and inland waterways.
"This equipment will help these agencies in their daily law enforcement missions and improve their technical and tactical response to natural and manmade disasters,” Jones said.
Eight of the 37 teams are provided by the FWC. Although the FWC provides planning and management for the teams, its primary role is to offer support when local law enforcement agencies need transportation on the water, vessel escorts, security, search-and-rescue and scene protection. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement deploys the groups when needed.
The collective enforcement area for FWC includes Florida’s inland waterways, 8,400 miles of tidal coastline and up to 200 miles offshore.
The new equipment includes night-vision goggles, thermal imaging devices and high-powered searchlights.