What do you think about this?.....

[sunset]

I had an idea about homeland security. I wrote to Pres. Bush yesterday about it.

Homeland Security has stretched our law officers to the max. They are expected to pull more weight than ever with very little, or no more pay increase.
Almost every community has a volunteer fire dept.
Could we have a "Homeland Security Volunteer Team" for each community that is willing to participate?
The standards and training specs would be implemented & authorized by the Homeland Security Office in Wash DC.
The training and selection would go to a group of screened volunteers & facilitated by law officers in the local areas.
Once trained, these volunteers would stand ready, just like a volunteer fire dept, to assist local law enforcement officers in their homeland protection efforts.

What are your thoughts on this idea?
What would you change? add? or subtract?
If you like this idea...send it to your congressman. Maybe this could be a way for all of us to help in our homeland protection, lessen the cost, and assist the already overburdened law enforcement officers.

[Vapodog]

I'd be two thumbs up on it.......the idea will have it's detractors but all in all I'd support it

[cardeer]

Good thought. I do know are volunteer fire companies around here are having finacial problems though

[Aught Six]

Good thought. I do know are volunteer fire companies around here are having finacial problems though

Excellent point. I'm sure finding volunteer labor would be pretty easy, but training and equipment tend to be expensive for dealing with homeland security issues.

But I would support it, if we could get the financial aspects taken care of.

[chipmunk]

Perhaps the federal government could make grants available to communities who wish to implement this idea.

Our police officers have been able to obtain various equipment through federal grants.

[wesleykey]

these volunteers would stand ready

Stand ready to do what?? [:-][:-]

With what funding?

Trained by who?

[sunset]

Stand ready to do what??

With what funding?

Trained by who?

1) Ready to assist the officers on a call that comes in on 9-11 like the one in our area that came in the other day....
A guy was emptying his trash into a dumpster. He saw a grenade. He called 9-11. Homeland Security measures from the police dept were deployed.
The volunteer could be there for any extra assistance that the officers would need.
They could relieve some of the officers who may not need to be at such a small situation.
There are numerous calls that come into law enforcement agencies that are trivial. Some are huge. As in a fire, the volunteers do whatever is needed.
Some of the volunteers could be retired military who know how to use a canine in a bomb search, or find corpses.
Some volunteers could provide first aid to officers, or complete paper work (which is the least favorite part of a lot of officers jobs), or provide food, water, if it is a long drawn out ordeal that they are called to do.
The list of volunteer functions is endless
The grenaded was a dud. btw.....

2) Funding...grants, private companies, local charities, fund raisers......or,
this could be like the minute men of the revolutionary war, each person would be ready from his/her home to come to the aid of the officers. The law officers would be in charge of the situations. Volunteers would take orders from them on what to do in each situation.

3) Training: One training program conceived by the Homeland Security Office in Wash DC. Training would be given to law officers. Each area would have one or two law officers for training the volunteers. After the volunteers are screened & trained. There can be a volunteer in charge of training any further volunteers.

Just some thoughts.........appreciate your questions.....I would like to see if this would be a viable solution for us....

[wesleykey]

The volunteer could be there for any extra assistance that the officers would need.
They could relieve some of the officers who may not need to be at such a small situation.

Why would "extra assistance" be needed if the situation is "small"?

fund raisers

You can fund it if you want, I want to fund a fishing trip....

One training program conceived by the Homeland Security Office in Wash DC

So every cop in the country goes to D.C. for training? I assume you are paying their way?


I don't mean to sound cynical, it's just that Homeland Security has done nothing so far but raise and lower the terror alert. We have no evidence they have done anything worth $2 in tax dollars since they were created.

[sunset]

ORIGINAL: wesleykey

Why would "extra assistance" be needed if the situation is "small"?

Small or large is assessed at the scene. Fire departments / Police are dispatched, then the situation is assessed to see who stays or goes. Volunteers could take up slack for what the trained officers don't need to stay for. The officers and firemen could go to more important calls and let the volunteers stay on the small scenes, with appropriate amount of law officers in charge of the scene.

You can fund it if you want, I want to fund a fishing trip....

I know you are trying to be funny, but, consider this, if our homeland isn't safe, you aren't going to be fishing much.

So every cop in the country goes to D.C. for training? I assume you are paying their way?

The training can be done via the handbook, or a video.

I don't mean to sound cynical, it's just that Homeland Security has done nothing so far but raise and lower the terror alert. We have no evidence they have done anything worth $2 in tax dollars since they were created.

And....that is why this hands on local , guard your own home & your neighbors home could be valuable.


Your questions are good. They are making me think. I appreciate that. You do have some valid concerns as we all do in securing the safety of our country.

[wesleykey]

The training can be done via the handbook, or a video.

Send me the handbook. I already have a couple loaded guns on hand....