State Representative
Rich Stanek

(ST. PAUL) Minnesota has a good framework for engaging potential terrorist threats, but federal assistance is essential to keeping Minnesota ahead of newly emerging threats, compensating officer overtime, and building equipment reserves, House Judiciary Finance Chairman told members of the Minnesota congressional delegation during a visit to Washington, D.C. last week.

The need for federal aid is even more urgent after last week's announcement of a $1.9 billion state budget shortfall, Stanek added.

While in Washington, Stanek also attended a meeting that featured U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, and spoke about Minnesota's own security issues to a panel of state legislators from across the nation.

In past legislative committee meetings, Stanek and others have worked closely with representatives from law enforcement, fire, and military organizations across the state and identified Minnesota's funding needs for improving homeland security in our state. Among the needs discussed are:

EQUIPMENT: Improvements to cross-jurisdiction communication equipment such as the state's 800 megahertz radio network and the Criminal Justice Integrated Information System (CriMNet), personal protective equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus suits and personal power respirator suits, air quality monitoring equipment, and decontamination equipment.

TRAINING: Training for local law enforcement in conjunction with other first responders to identify, prevent and respond to domestic terrorism, HAZMAT training, and leadership response training.

EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES: Reimbursement to local governments for unforseen costs and officer overtime incurred due to the events of Sept. 11, and additional funding for National Guard site security.

"We received a warm reception from our congressional delegates," Stanek said. "They were anxious to hear what steps we were taking to protect Minnesota, and what they could do to help."

Said Stanek, Minnesota has already initiated local anti-terrorism forces, carried out extensive planning and training programs, and deployed resources throughout the state. But more must be done to keep up with sophisticated criminals and deal with new threats to our homeland security.

more Statewide, Minnesota's Domestic Preparedness Program organizes overall state strategy to respond and recover from a terrorism incident through the coordinated planning efforts of the state and local jurisdictions, training and exercise development, and administration of the Department of Justice State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program.

Through state and local appropriations, the Department of Public Safety has held hundreds of training exercises. Within DPS, the Division of Emergency Management has two staff positions dedicated to anti-terrorism activities, and controls first responder chemical assessment teams which are placed strategically throughout the state.

Since September 11, Minnesota has received some funding from the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Domestic Preparedness and the U.S. Defense Department. Hennepin and Ramsey counties and the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis received about $600,000 earmarked for equipment, such as hazardous-materials suits, decontamination units, sensing devices for detecting chemical agents and communications equipment.

St. Paul and Minneapolis took part in the Department of Defense Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Program. The Twin Cities were among a group of 120 cities involved in the program and were in the first group of 68 to be trained and received domestic preparedness training and equipment.

A federal domestic preparedness equipment program required states to complete a three-year statewide domestic preparedness strategy. Minnesota received an initial payment of $949,000 in May 2000, and the recent approval of a comprehensive preparedness strategy opens the door for nearly $2.6 million in additional funds to be used for personal protective equipment, decontamination units, sensing devices and communications equipment.

State Representative Rich Stanek is the chairman of the House Judiciary Finance Committee and a Minneapolis Police Inspector. He is currently in his fourth term representing Maple Grove and Osseo, Minnesota.