Whatever you say about Gov. Rick Scott, he can juggle and chew gum at the same time.
Of course he's laser-focused on jobs and the economy -- they're always going to come first. But he gets a lot of Floridians' other priorities right, too -- none more important than keeping them safe.
We saw what he did last year during Hurricane Hermine, then Hurricane Matthew. He was personally involved. He led the charge, was get-communities-back-up-and-running-committed. We saw how he responded to the Zika virus, the states of emergency he declared during the algae crisis in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers and during the wildfires in South Florida. And he rose to the occasion after terrorism struck the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, taking 49 lives, and then the shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport.
On March 7 in his State of the State address, Scott recounted all Florida had been through during 2016 alone.
"While heartbreaking, these tragedies have given me a new perspective," he said. "I am now more convinced than ever that the future of our state is even greater than our past accomplishments and that we must be even more resolved to build a society where any child, no matter where they are from, has the opportunity to live their dreams."
Now here we are in the wake of the world's latest grisly terrorist attack. What happened Monday night in Manchester, England -- the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that killed 22 people, mostly children, and injured scores of others -- served as another reminder that safety in large crowds is never guaranteed.
Which brings me finally to my point: Floridians can be grateful. Their governor is way ahead of the curve on counterterrorism. And this is as good a time as any to recognize his pragmatism and give him a shout-out for it.
In January Scott announced he had proposed in his recommended 2017-2018 budget $5.8 million for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to fund an additional 46 counterterrorism agents. FDLE is the state agency responsible for Florida’s domestic security and preparedness and it's one of the department’s six major investigative focuses (along with economic crime, major drugs, violent crime, public integrity and computer crime).
In fact, the budget request went out for $6,355,356 -- for one special agent supervisor, 37 special agent positions and eight senior crime intelligence analyst II positions to create counterterrorism squads in each FDLE region; two squads will be deployed in Miami. The request includes positions filled above the established minimum base salaries. The standard sworn expense package is part of non-recurring costs and includes a vehicle, laptop and radio equipment.
The governor's counterterrorism priority didn't get the big headlines that Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida did, but it was clear the governor had thought it through.
Kerri Wyland, a spokesperson for the governor, told me Wednesday, "HB 457 creates criminal offenses for people who commit acts of terrorism or engage in illegal activities in connection with terrorist organizations. Gov. Scott has worked closely with Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen to ensure law enforcement officers get more of the tools they need to keep our state safe for families and visitors."
This is the explanation in the governor's budget request, as presented by FDLE:
Issue. Terrorism is a critical public safety threat to Florida’s residents and tourists and a threat to the state’s economic well-being. Based on a high volume of indicators nationwide, Florida needs to increase vigilance and involvement in terror-related intelligence and investigative activities. ... The FBI has publicly indicated the country is at greater risk now for a terror attack on American soil than it was preceding Sept. 11, 2001. In recent years, Florida has been among the top three states with the most Known or Suspected Terrorist (KST) hits at the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). TSC maintains the federal government’s consolidated terrorist watch list, supporting the ability of front line screening agencies to positively identify KSTs trying to obtain visas, enter the country, board aircraft or engage in other activity.
Homegrown violent extremists are an increasingly common type of domestic terror threat. The Pulse Nightclub shooting incident in Orlando in June is an example of this type of terrorism. These individuals encourage, endorse, condone, justify and support the commission of a violent criminal act to achieve political, ideological, religious, social or economic goals by a U.S. citizen or resident who has rejected American cultural values, beliefs and norms. In 2015, approximately 60 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) supporters based in the United States were arrested. According to the FBI, these types of threats are too prolific for federal law enforcement to track without assistance from local and state agencies.
Prevention, which depends upon timely accurate intelligence, identification, investigation and apprehension, is the best protection from a terror attack. FDLE does not possess sufficient resources to dedicate adequate personnel to domestic security while sustaining other mission critical commitments. The integration of counterterrorism agents into domestic security squads are necessary to improve terror-related intelligence collection and sharing, conduct terror-related criminal investigations and enhance the agency’s participation in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) throughout the state. The JTTFs are essential to the state’s engagement regarding terrorist activity related to Florida. An FDLE presence on every JTTF squad would ensure department involvement with threat information that could impact the safety and security of the state.
Resources. The department is requesting $6,355,356 for one special agent supervisor position, 37 special agent positions and 8 senior crime intelligence analyst II positions to create counterterrorism squads in each FDLE region; two squads will be deployed in Miami. The request includes base salary increases in Priority #2. As a result, the positions would be filled above the established minimum base salaries. The standard sworn
expense package is part of the non-recurring costs and includes a vehicle, laptop and radio equipment.
Results. Improve awareness and knowledge of potential terror activity important to the state and the department’s capability to provide an increased level of safety for Florida. Enhance domestic security prevention efforts via increased investigative activities and intelligence. Increase number of domestic security cases worked, resulting in additional arrests and prosecutions.
Risks. Inability to assign sufficient personnel to the domestic security mission to provide full visibility and awareness regarding the international and domestic terror threat facing the state. Place Florida’s citizens and visitors, as well as tourism, the state’s main economy driver, at increased risk.
Effective dates. Upon receipt of funds. This issue is consistent with the Florida Strategic Plan for Economic Development to create and sustain vibrant, safe, and healthy communities that attract workers, residents, businesses and visitors.
The goal of terrorism is shock and fear in service of an often indistinct end. And as the obvious targets become increasingly hardened, the bombers and shooters are likely to seek softer spots where they believe the killing is easier. That’s a wake-up call to cities in Florida. Now Scott wants to give AnyCity, Florida that same hardened reputation so terrorists will know it's a very bad idea to try to unleash their jihad on Florida and its citizens.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
