Emergency Officials Debate Homeland Security Secrecy

Colorado has received more than $100 million in federal grants since 2001, but some government and media representatives think the public should know more about how that money is spent. Emergency officials, on the other hand, say disclosing the information could jeopardize security.

According to an article by Jonathan Ellis in Colorado’s Evergreen Canyon Courier, emergency management officials from throughout the state met last week to discuss a 2002 state law that bans the disclosure of "specialized details of security arrangements." Ellis says the law, enacted in the aftermath of September 11, "allows police departments, fire departments and other agencies to spend anti-terrorism grants without public oversight."

Michael Beasley, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, told Ellis that the law, which he lobbied for, does what it was intended to do and it is best not to release records about critical infrastructure, threat assessments or the type of equipment local agencies buy. However, he also told Ellis he believes some records could be released without jeopardizing security, including some financial details.

Chris Olson, the director of safety services for the city of Englewood and a representative for the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, told Ellis police chiefs favor erring on the side of safety, even with financial records. Ellis says government officials are slated to meet again in the next few weeks to decide if they should introduce legislation to allow the public more access to homeland security records.

To read the full article, click here: http://www.canyoncourier.com/articles/2004/11/24/news/news07.txt