Public Safety Signals

Another Terrible Anniversary

2008 Sep 4 Posted by Mark

           Another terrible anniversary looms, one that we all wish had never happened. In September of 2001, the way we did our public safety jobs changed forever. We watched as planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. The day soon was dubbed “9/11”. This is a date that those of us who witnessed it will never forget.

            Following those events, President Bush began a new arm of the federal government called the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS presented a framework that assists us to better prepare our country, a road map if you will. With this roadmap, we all have a specific part of which we must take responsibility to ensure we get to the correct destination.

            On October 9, 2007, the President issued an updated National Strategy for
Homeland Security.  This strategy serves to guide, organize, and unify our nation’s
homeland security efforts. As I read through this strategy, I realized it was a true working strategy. I encourage each and every person involved (or wanting to be involved) in public safety to read and understand every bit of this strategy. This is a wonderful basis to help make a great nation even stronger.

Often times those of us in public safety forget that there are others involved in different disciplines of Homeland Security. We become so focused on our own jobs that we begin to think that our specific area is the only one that makes a difference. We couldn’t be more wrong!

Homeland Security is more like a spider web rather than a few cobwebs. We must remember that law enforcement, both international and national will never be able to catch every terrorist and we must prepare for those incidents. We must also realize that in response there is no way for fire, emergency management and EMS to be completely prepared for every scenario. Anything can happen at anytime. We need to remember we are all part of that web, and the strength of that web is increased by better integration with other facets of public safety.

The most important thing we need to remember is a spirit of cooperation. I encourage each of you to always reach out in cooperation as you move forward in your public safety career, long before a disaster dictates that cooperation. Look beyond what your assigned job is and reach out to those that have those other public safety jobs. The real winner will be the public! After all, isn’t that what we got into this game for?

As always, stay safe,

Mark S. Warnick

September 4, 2008 | Filed under: Capella, Capella University, Law enforcement, Public Safety Signals, Public safety, Sept. 11, World Trade Center, crime, disaster, education, homeland security, online college, online degrees, online university, police, terror, terrorism
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