08.07.03

Cantwell Announces Homeland Security Grant For Tacoma Police Department

$258,000 Grant Will Pay for New Harbor Patrol Boat

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is awarding the Tacoma Police Department a $258,000 grant to buy a boat for harbor patrol. Currently there is no local, rapid maritime response for emergencies in south Puget Sound. Cantwell worked with the TSA to secure the grant. Admiral James M. Loy, Undersecretary of Transportation Security at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed the grant award in a letter to Cantwell.

"Increasingly, our security here at home is in the hands of law enforcement agencies," said Cantwell. "Today, every port, every border crossing, and every airport is a potential target, and a potential point of entry for terrorists. This grant will help the Tacoma Police Department keep Commencement Bay open for business and safe from harm."

Cantwell observed that Washingtonians have already seen an example of how homeland security is now a key responsibility of many federal, state, and local agencies not traditionally associated with threats to our security. In 1999, alert U.S. Customs agents prevented a likely New Year’s Eve terrorist attack in the United States when they foiled an attempt to smuggle explosives across the U.S.-Canada border at Port Angeles.

"This is a great day for Tacoma," said Tacoma Police Department Chief Don Ramsdell. "For the first time in Tacoma’s history, we’ll have a police presence on Tacoma’s waterways. With the heightened security since 9/11, this will provide the citizens of Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma with the additional police protection on the waters around the city’s edge."

The high volume of shipping traffic in Tacoma makes its port a possible target for terrorism or other threats. Collectively, Puget Sound ports have the third-largest container load in North America. In 2002, the Port of Tacoma had a record year for shipping, and this year traffic is up 37 percent over those levels.

In addition, the Maritime Administration has officially designated the Port of Tacoma as a strategic port, as it is used for naval and regional military embarkation and "would be utilized in national emergency."

Cantwell added, "Stepping up to solve our homeland security vulnerabilities will not be cheap, but we can’t afford not to provide the men and women of law enforcement with the tools they need to protect us."

On March 25, Sen. Cantwell also signed a letter from the Washington Congressional delegation to Homeland Security Secretary Thomas Ridge and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta supporting the Puget Sound regional port security grant requests. The FY 2003 Appropriations Act designated $150 million for grants to U.S. ports, and the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett have applied for $15 million through 28 grants.

Cantwell also pledged to continue working with state and local agencies on homeland security issues. She said that she will continue her dialogue with them to learn their needs, and fight to see that they are met.