New York Getting City Liaison from DHS

In an attempt to improve communication and coordination during a terrorist threat, the Department of Homeland Security has announced it will assign a new liaison officer to New York City.

The Associated Press’ Devlin Barrett says the department is also considering adding a liaison to Los Angeles as well. Barrett says DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff told Rep. Peter King “at a private meeting that he would send a member of his headquarters operation center to the NYPD's headquarters in lower Manhattan.”

Homeland Security spokesperson Russ Knocke told Barrett that in the future, homeland security officials will work to put out joint statements with local officials in the event of a terror alert to avoid confusion in such situations.

“Like any relationship, you recognize you can always find ways to grow and strengthen those ties, and we’ve been interested in doing so,” Knocke told Barrett. “We hope to move on it very quickly.”

As reported in the October 19 Continuity e-Guide, the department came under fire recently for its handling of a subway terror alert earlier this month. The DHS is now undergoing an internal investigation into whether or not officials privately warned their own family and friends about the threat on October 6.