Gov. Rick Scott says terrorism has no place in the Sunshine State and he’s prepared to dump $6 million of Florida’s own money into warding off terror attacks.
The $6 million proposal would add a new element of defense to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Under the proposal, FDLE would add 46 counterterrorism agents as part of Scott’s 2017-2018 recommended budget. Thirty-eight of those agents would be anti-crime special agents and eight would work as crime intelligence analysts.
All 46 agents will be organized into counterterrorism squads stationed in each of FDLE’s seven regions around the state.
Counterterrorism agents will develop close ties with local law enforcement agencies, working with state and federal intelligence agencies to plan an agenda heavily focused on domestic security.
“Terror is a threat to our state and nation and we need specialists that are solely dedicated to identifying these terrorists and stopping them before they attack,” Scott said.
Scott’s proposal was heavily influenced by last June's Pulse Nightclub terror attack, which left 49 people dead and ushered in a wave of fear as terror hit close to home in the Sunshine State. During the massacre, shooter Omar Mateen pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State.
The attack, Scott said, was a call to action to use all measures possible to combat terrorism.
“Following the attack, I spoke to many of the victims’ families and mourned with them at funerals,” Scott said. “Their lives will never be the same, and as the father of two daughters the same age as many of the victims, I cannot imagine the pain these families are going through. This recommended funding is a critical investment in our state’s counterterrorism operations that will work to ensure that our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to curb this senseless violence.”
FDLE already has three offices funded by the Department of Homeland Security known as “fusion centers” in Miami, Orlando and Tallahassee.
According to the budget document, FDLE does not currently have adequate funding to support the program, hence Scott’s recommendation.
"FDLE does not possess sufficient resources to dedicate adequate personnel to domestic security while sustaining other mission critical commitments," the budget document read.
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said federal involvement in combating terror simply isn’t enough. The time is now, Swearingen said, to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of Floridians statewide.
“Governor Scott recognizes that we all have a role to play in defeating the terror which fueled the attack on Pulse Nightclub,” Swearingen said Wednesday in Orlando. “I applaud the Governor for his leadership in recommending this funding which will allow FDLE to integrate additional specialized agents into existing counterterrorism intelligence networks.”
Scott’s proposal is not guaranteed to become a reality. In order to pass, state lawmakers will have to approve the recommendation during this year’s budget deliberations. Scott has already asked for nearly $12 million in the new budget to give raises to all state law enforcement officers.
The Florida Legislature reconvenes in March.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
