Anti-Terrorism Funds Buy Wide Array of Pet Projects

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6311-2003Nov22.html

Anti-Terrorism Funds Buy Wide Array of Pet Projects
Some of Region's Unused Millions Could Be Lost

long article

<snip>
Col. Gerald Massengill, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, spent more than $1.4 million to arm every trooper with an M4 fully automatic rifle after he saw his troopers guarding a nuclear power plant armed only with handguns.

"I was afraid they were outgunned," said Massengill, who has since retired. The Maryland State Police superintendent, Col. Edward T. Norris, put his money into intelligence gathering, such as cell-phone tracking and surveillance equipment. He was influenced by his years as a police officer in New York City, where he saw terrorists get away because of lack of intelligence.

Rifles, he said, may be helpful to rural troopers, but they aren't directly related to the war on terrorism: "Our role is to gather intelligence."

Two agencies, two different philosophies. While Congress debates how much money is enough, local spending patterns illustrate the difficulty of pinpointing need.

For Montgomery County, it was an $800,000 mobile police command bus that one official said "will be the talk of the East Coast, with most every conceivable feature." Prince George's County officials figured they could get the same roving command capacity with four Chevy Tahoes that cost $140,000.

"I think there's a perception on the part of the public that government officials and first responders came together and said: 'Damn, here's our strategy. Here are the needs,' " said Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty), who chairs the Montgomery County Council's homeland security committee. "The reality is that we are only just beginning to come to grips with what the priorities are."

Without that strategy in place, the windfall created a culture of one-upmanship and giddy shopping.

As emergency operations centers throughout the region were upgraded, they were filled with new computers and furniture. Montgomery County officials spent $566,380 on audiovisual equipment -- more than twice what Fairfax County spent on similar equipment. Montgomery bought eight large-screen plasma television monitors at $20,000 each, while Prince William County firefighters opted for 36-inch sets at $695 each.

 

[Jeff White]

I find it interesting that COL. Massengill spent his money on things that would benefit the rank and file Troopers and make all the citizens in the state safer because their Troopers were better armed, everyone else spent big bucks on CCC equipment for the pogues to play with.

Think of how Charles Moose could have used that 800K command bus. How much more efficient he'd have been on stalling the investigation and creating panic.

Jeff

 

[Pilgrim]

Col. Gerald Massengill, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, spent more than $1.4 million to arm every trooper with an M4 fully automatic rifle after he saw his troopers guarding a nuclear power plant armed only with handguns.

Was any money spent teaching his troopers how to repel a coordinated infantry assault?

I doubt it.

Pilgrim

 

[Jeff White]

Pilgrim said;

Was any money spent teaching his troopers how to repel a coordinated infantry assault?

I doubt it.

I doubt they received training in Infantry tactics, but I doubt they just handed them out without any training and writing policy on their use.

Jeff

 

[JohnBT]

He worked his way up and retired after more than 30 years of good work.

Seems to me that Troopers need adequate firepower - they are out there on the roads by themselves in the middle of nowhere most of the time. The alternative is to make 'em carry revolvers and drive 4-cylinder economy cars to save us some money. Think of the fuel savings alone. Just kidding.

JT
______________________


Statement of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore

-- Regarding the Retirement of State Police Superintendent Col. Gerald Massengill --

"I was saddened to learn about the retirement of Colonel Massengill as head of the Virginia State Police. He has been a strong, effective leader in law enforcement and an asset to the people of Virginia. Additionally, while I have tremendous respect for him as a professional, I have also counted him as a close personal friend and ally in our continuing efforts to make Virginia a safer place to call home.

"Col. Massengill has served the people of Virginia for nearly four decades, and his unwavering sense of fairness and justice is unparalleled. While he will certainly remain involved in issues that affect Virginia, his daily presence at the helm of the State Police will be missed. He brought a sense of calm to every situation, most notably during the turbulent times that we all went through during the sniper attacks last fall.

"I welcome the incoming superintendent, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Flaherty, and look forward to continuing to work with the Virginia State Police for the safety and protection of all Virginians."


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Back to that Post article for a second. "...where he saw terrorists get away because of lack of intelligence."

His or theirs?

"Col. Edward T. Norris, put his money into intelligence gathering, such as cell-phone tracking and surveillance equipment. He was influenced by his years as a police officer in New York City, where he saw terrorists get away because of lack of intelligence."