Details thin on new homeland security working group
State and local officials were searching Tuesday for information about what their role would be in a new homeland security working group that will be dealing with increasing security at upcoming events in cities around the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced Monday that DHS would form a working group to coordinate government and private security at high-profile public events through January's presidential inauguration, including the G8 Summit in Georgia and the summer's political conventions in Boston and New York. Details on the working group have been slow to emerge, however, leading one official who asked not to be identified to say DHS is becoming known for making big announcements with little substance.
Ridge said special attention would be given to areas of concern such as rail and air security, hazardous materials shipments, chemical facilities and protection of the electrical grid.
"The Department of Homeland Security will lead a working group of federal agencies that will oversee this effort," Ridge said. "This group will reach out to mayors, governors and officials at every level of government, as well as the private sector.
"The coordination forged among Homeland Security professionals in the last two and a half years has created a force multiplier to protect communities countrywide," Ridge added. "This force works to improve the protection of our nation every day."
Ridge did not say which federal agencies would be part of the group. DHS did not return repeated calls for comment on Monday and Tuesday.
Although Ridge said the group would reach out to governors and mayors, those efforts have not happened yet, according to Jerry Murphy, director of the homeland security and technology division at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices.
Murphy said his organization supports the idea of the new working group, but has not received information about the role of state and local officials. At this point, Murphy is not sure how the working group is structured, what exactly it will do and which federal agencies are involved.
"I'm encouraged by the announcement but, given the limited amount of information that has been released, it is difficult to determine exactly what the role of the governors will be," Murphy said. "I look forward to learning more about the working group."
The governors association supports any efforts to educate and include state and local law enforcement officials in planning for national security special events, Murphy added.
"We need to do more in terms of educating state and local officials about [special events] and how they can work closely with the Secret Service to provide security at these events," he said. "What I am hoping to see is a working group of federal, state and local officials."
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Mayors said her organization was contacting DHS to find out how it can be of assistance to the working group.