By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The state's Counter-Terrorism Network has more than doubled in size. Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue announced yesterday the number of network terminals statewide has increased from 132 to more than 300.
One of the new terminals was installed inside UB's public safety headquarters on the North Campus. It brings the number of network terminals in Erie County to five. The program was unveiled in January, allowing law enforcement agencies in new York to share critical intelligence about terrorist threats.
Lt. Gov. Donohue said such threats aren't limited to just large cities.
"We know that it can happen in the smallest town and the planning can happen in the most remote areas," Donohue said. "We need to be watchful."
With more than 70,000 state and local law enforcement professionals in New York, the director of the state Office of Public Security John Scanlon said information is the single most effective weapon to stop terrorism.
"Using this network to share relevant intelligence is going to put us on a path of finding those terrorists and would-be terrorists who lurk among us," Scanlon said. "Let's remember, that's what the terrorists on 9/11 did. They came to our country. They learned to fly. They ate in our restaurants and shopped in our stores. People saw them."
Scanlon says law enforcement agencies in New York much better educated about various terrorist threats than they were last year at this time. More than 80 advisories have been put out over the Counter Terrorism Network since it was launched last January.