Homeland Security Advisory Council Talks Regionalization, Communications

Missouri’s Homeland Security Advisory Panel has approved a regionalization plan to unify homeland security efforts. It’s a map similar to the State Highway Patrol’s regions. At its Jefferson City meeting, the panel also discussed what’s called interoperability – a system allowing different jurisdictions to communicate with each another on the same radio channels. Control would rest with individual municipalities and counties – and that has some members of the Council concerned the channel might be tied up with non-emergency communications. Public Safety Director Mark James says local jurisdictions will be told that should not happen. And, he says tehre would have to be agreement from the local jurisdictions before grant money could be spent for this project. James says this is a long-term plan, adding it will be several years before the system is up and running throughout the state.