Terrorism seminar scheduled at State Theatre in Uniontown
Fayette County Sheriff Gary D. Brownfield Sr. has a terrorism awareness and prevention plan that he wants to share with the public, government leaders, school district officials and business leaders, now that America is on the brink of war with Iraq. Brownfield will discuss understanding the realities and myths of terrorism and what Fayette County residents can do to increase their own security at 7 p.m. March 17 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts.
According to Brownfield, the one-hour session will explain terrorism, how and why terrorists operate, the threat to the nation, what to look for and how and where to report suspicious activity to law-enforcement agencies.
“Awareness is the key to prevention. While we have stepped up measures to enhance the safety of our community, the fact remains that the nation has been in a state of orange alert for about three weeks now, and federal and state officials can’t be in all places at all times,” Brownfield said. “We need citizens to work in partnership with us and to let us know when they see or hear something that might be suspicious, because terrorists could just as easily bring it to us like they did on 9-11 (Sept. 11, 2001, when the Pentagon and World Trade Center were attacked).”
Brownfield said the presentation also will include discussion on “the threat,” as it relates to Fayette County, and actions that have been taken locally to protect communities, especially school children.
“Our nation is again experiencing a heightened state of alert for terrorism,” said Brownfield, “and it has never been more crucial for citizens to understand the important role they play in protecting themselves and their community. …We’ve stepped up measures to enhance safety for the community, but the fact remains that we need to work in partnership with the community.”
Brownfield said the biggest terrorist target in the county and across the nation is the water supply. He said that his office has stepped up patrols at area water reservoirs.
“Right now those areas are our main concern,” said Brownfield. “We don’t have a big department, but we are trying to do everything we can.”
Brownfield said he also is continuing work to get the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) in operation.
“We have 14 volunteer police officers, with the highest training you can receive, from various municipalities all over Fayette County on the SERT team,” said Brownfield. “The men have been training hard for 22 months, just in case we should encounter an extreme emergency.”
Brownfield said in order to give the SERT team countywide jurisdiction, he brought the team in under the umbrella of the sheriff’s office.
“We are also now qualified to handle a school shooting incident if it should happen,” said Brownfield. “Our response time is about 20 minutes to almost any school in Fayette County, so if, God forbid, something like Columbine would happen here, we would be ready.”
Brownfield admitted that the state police have the finest SERT team available, but it takes time for them to respond.
“It could take several hours for them to get here,” said the sheriff. “Time can mean lives, and if we have a gunman and don’t have people properly trained, then we’ve got a problem.
“Eventually, we’ll have all of the floor plans for every school in the county downloaded into the command post, and I will know where every broom closet is in every school.”
Brownfield said the success of the SERT team hinges on the county commissioners’ coming up with the $15,000 to $20,000 for compensation and liability insurance.
“We are not officially up and running, because we need the insurance,” said Brownfield.
Brownfield said the SERT team put on a demonstration last June at Frazier High School. The FBI and Secret Service simulated a terrorist attack, in which they killed the principal and a secretary, wounded two and took 17 people hostage
“We set up negotiations that lasted for about five hours,” said Brownfield.
“Eventually, I was able to talk them out without any further injuries. The FBI was impressed. My sharpshooter was on a roof that day, and it was so hot out that his shoes melted into the tar.”
Brownfield said that after the March 17 presentation, which is free to the public, the SERT team will give a brief demonstration.