Department Request

REQUEST FOR CREATION OF NEW UNIT

Watkins Police Department

Chief Robert Watkins

City of Watkins

New Unit Creation

Good Afternoon,

This request comes in accordance with state statute 902.030 (flaStu) per request: A new unit/branch formation in order to combat any threat deemed dangerous, probable and credible towards the city. In order to deter future attacks in a post 9-11 era, a request must be put in paperwork to the city Mayor as well as City Council members to approve such formation/funding.

I am writing in accordance of Florida law with request of a formation of a new unit in order to assist officers with funding, training and equipment in order to create a new unit. This unit called, Quick Reactionary Task Force (QRTF) will respond to all terrorist threats, incidents, investigations (including search warrants) and attacks within city police department jurisdiction. As the Chief of Police, I find the need for specialized training of my officers for this unit extremely vital and important, as the threat of Islamic Fundamentalist ideology is on the rise in America and with past investigations with our inter-agency unit, I feel the funding, training and equipment would help give our department the 21st century training and assistance needed, if in fact city is attacked by terrorism.

Training from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would be extremely important as well as vital to ensure that proper knowledge, understanding, equipment training and overall assistance would be extremely beneficial to the department and our officers. Being a Combat Veteran of Iraq, I can tell you that the training I received in the Marines was extremely helpful and useful in the fight against terrorism and helped with the effort of combating terrorism with specialized training, equipment and knowledge to make Iraq a safer country. I feel the same way with the training my officers would receive with these two federal agencies who...