Combatting terror is a joint effort

Combatting terror is a joint effort

By Scott Israel

The unimaginable horrors of the 9/11 terror attacks remain as painful today as they did that fateful Tuesday morning 16 years ago. None of us will ever forget where we were as the chaos and carnage unfolded—and nearly 3,000 innocent souls perished—before our eyes. The heinous assault forever altered the course of history and our lives.

Yet we rose from the ashes and smoldering remains a stronger nation—a nation which courageously channeled its fear, anguish and anger into constructive action that has produced positive results for our country and at home here in Broward County.

Though we can never and should never claim victory in the war against terror, Broward is safer today as a result of the efforts by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Since 2001, BSO has undergone transformational changes and has forged a strong spirit of cooperation with numerous law enforcement entities. Today, we’re working smarter and training harder as part of our relentless mission to keep residents and visitors out of harm’s way.  After all, if you’re not prepared, you’re prepared to fail.

The efforts begin with the work our dedicated men and women perform each day, including individuals who serve in various roles and perform critical tasks as part of BSO’s Homeland Security Unit. This specialized unit includes Intelligence, the Bomb Squad and the Covert Electronic Surveillance Unit, a vital component to combatting terrorism.

This unit’s importance was seen in January during the shooting at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood international Airport. Within 30 minutes, our Homeland Security Unit knew the attacker’s identity and gathered a dossier of information about him and his possible motives and affiliations.

In addition, BSO has dedicated personnel assigned to the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force (SFJTTF). The task force, comprised of local, state and federal authorities, helps protect our nation by serving as valuable conduits for sharing vital homeland security information and countering domestic terrorism.

With increased interagency communication and bolstered investigative prowess, numerous potential terror attacks have been thwarted.  In 2012, the SFJTTF arrested two brothers from Oakland Park who planned on carrying out bombing attacks in New York. BSO and the task force were also critical in halting a potential bombing at an Aventura synagogue last year.

However, our work is far from over. While BSO and law enforcement agencies throughout the country have had incredible success in preventing another 9/11-style attack, there are still challenges ahead. Chief amongst those is the ever-changing face of terrorism.

As we’ve seen from the attacks at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the Boston Marathon bombing and the Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston, today’s attacks are largely perpetrated by individuals or small groups with no known ties to established terror groups. These home-grown killers will use any means necessary to inflict as much death and destruction as they can. Many are self-radicalized through the internet—which makes it difficult to spot early warning signs. In essence, the internet is law enforcement’s biggest challenge to combatting terror.

To counter that challenge, we need the assistance of members of the community. Please, always remain vigilant and alert. If you see something, say something. Together, we are stronger in our fight against terror.