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 You know how when the President and homeland security officials say police officers are the first line of defense in the war on terror? Well, forget about it.
The federal government is slashing funds for law enforcement's efforts in securing the homeland by half. At the same time, they've decided that firefighters are much better prepared to help protect America from attacks. The cuts to law enforcement are nothing new.
The Bush administration has virtually eliminated federal funding for local law enforcement agencies over the last seven years. Even the successful COPS grants that were credited with helping reduce crime in the 1990s have been eviscerated – largely by the folks that say any spending on local law enforcement is "big government." To really understand what "big government" is all about, you have to look at the operations and management of the Department of Homeland Security. Instead of streamlining existing agencies like FEMA and the US Coast Guard, they've been warehoused in a massive super-bureaucracy.
Even state to state fugitive warrants are being routed through "fusion centers" designed to deal with terrorism – sometimes with deadly results. DHS plans for New York City firefighters to share anti-terrorism information with Homeland Security officials have drawn criticism from Islamic Americans and even some firefighters who fear the program may violate constitutional protections. Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security want to train firefighters to look for indications of terrorist activity after they respond to calls. They say that firefighters and fire inspectors are uniquely positioned to identify terrorists because, unlike police, they can enter homes and businesses without search warrants.
"They get to go into places where police don’t get to go into," Jack Tomarchio, the DHS’s deputy assistant secretary for intelligence, told the New York Times in a recent interview. Once the program is perfected in New York, it can be extended to fire departments everywhere. "I think it’s very important throughout the country," said New York City Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. "There has to be a heightened awareness in the United States, given the events of 9/11, and given the statements that have been made by terrorist groups."
Others say ignoring the Constitution and the principles this country was founded on may be a hasty and ill-advised response to fears about terrorism. "What it effectively does is turn firefighters into moving surveillance devices for the police," said Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University. Firefighters are also concerned.
"Using firefighters to gain access to people's homes could potentially undermine what we do everyday," said Jeff Zack of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents 287,000 firefighters nationwide. "Any program should address residents’ privacy concerns and firefighters’ training requirements." Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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