|
|
 Sanford makes SLED homeland security leader_files/t.gif) |
|
Posted on January 22, 2003
Sanford makes SLED homeland security leader
The Associated
Press
Gov. Mark Sanford has put State Law
Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart in charge of fighting terrorism
in South Carolina.
Sanford has eliminated the state homeland
security office, which was created by former Gov. Jim Hodges after the
terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, to save money, said Chris
Drummond, Sanford's spokesman.
The counterterrorism agency had been
staffed voluntarily by retired Gen. Steve Siegfried and one other
volunteer.
"Chief Stewart has the resources, the equipment, the
infrastructure and the connections with local governments," Drummond
said.
Stewart will be responsible for the millions of dollars in
federal grants that will help train local emergency crews.
He said
Tuesday he plans to create a statewide counterterrorism council to
coordinate police, firefighters and paramedic.
Stewart is looking
for more crisis management experts, though he doesn't expect SLED to get
much money for new hires.
"The safety and security of the citizens
is every government's first priority," Stewart said. "We take this
responsibility very seriously."
Information from: The
State
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Sanford makes SLED homeland security leader_files/brand.gif)