Wisconsin’s Homeland Security Advisor and 13 member Council is responsible for advising the governor, coordinating state and local prevention and response efforts, and producing periodic reports on the state of homeland security in Wisconsin. The Council works with local, state, federal, and tribal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private industry to improve citizen and community preparedness. The governor is responsible for appointing Council members. Additionally, a member of the governor’s staff is invited to attend and participate at each meeting.
In 2011, the Council changed its meeting structure from monthly to quarterly and extended the meeting time to four hours. This longer meeting structure allows the Council to discuss homeland security issues in greater depth. Additionally, the Council created work groups that meet in between regular meetings and focus on strategic goals. Often, officials from non-member agencies and non-governmental organizations attend to gather information about homeland security issues. Additionally, the Council provides an official report to the governor each year during one of its public meetings.
2012 Annual Report On Wisconsin Homeland Security
Governor Scott Walker joined Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, Major General Donald Dunbar, and Assistant Secretary for Department of Homeland Security, Betsy Markey along with federal, state and local law enforcement officials to launch the “If You See Something, Say Something ™” campaign in Wisconsin. The national public awareness campaign is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to encourage citizens to report suspicious activity.
“Our first line of defense against crime and terrorism is our citizens,” Said Gov. Walker. “When you see something suspicious -– call local law enforcement and report it. Citizen tips have helped law enforcement do their job in stopping criminals, terrorism-related crime, and keeping our friends and family members safe.”
The “If You See Something, Say Something ™” campaign will be featured on billboards on major highways across the state. In addition, a new website was unveiled at www.wiwatch.org to provide the public with information about the program.
The nationwide “If You See Something, Say Something ™” public awareness campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement. “Homeland security begins with hometown security, and every citizen plays a critical role in identifying and reporting suspicious activities and threats,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “Expanding the ‘If You See Something, Say Something™’ campaign to the state of Wisconsin is an important part of the Department’s efforts to help protect our nation and engage the American public in keeping our country safe and resilient.”
Wisconsin’s campaign is being coordinated by the state’s two fusion centers – the Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center (STAC) in Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Statewide Information Center (WSIC) in Madison. Both fusion centers serve local, county and state public safety customers by sharing intelligence, offering training on the behaviors and indicators of terrorism, protecting Wisconsin critical infrastructure through risk assessments, and analyzing national threat information as it relates to Wisconsin.
Attorney General Van Hollen, who oversees WSIC operations at the Department of Justice, said “An alert public is an essential part of the fight against crime and terrorism. This program will remind people to be aware and to contact law enforcement if they see something suspicious.”
Information about the program ““If You See Something, Say Something ™” in Wisconsin is located at www.wiwatch.org. If you witness something suspicious, call 9-1-1 or dial toll-free, 877-WI-WATCH.
Please click on the document link below to open and read a copy of the new Wisconsin Homeland Security Strategy. This document has been developed and is being released by the Wisconsin Homeland Security Council. This document contains information on the Homeland Security Priorities in the State of Wisconsin. Each priority has been broken into more tangible goals for which progress can be monitored. Each goal has then been assigned to “a goal champion” which is a state agency which will take on the responsibility of helping make progress on each goal, and thus the overarching priority, and the Strategy as a whole.
Please find the document by clicking on this link below:
WI Homeland Security Strategy 2012-2015
