If Y
By Uyen Le
S
Homela
on tips f
ee something, say something. It’s a phrase many information where credentialed personnel can report
in government and emergency management
suspicious activity linking all Homeland Security
are familiar with, but Bill O’Brien with the
partners. The platform was created 10 years ago when
Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s
law enforcement agencies realized they needed a way
Homeland Security division said it’s a phrase people
to better communicate and share important information.
need to take seriously, now more than ever.
Some features of HSIN include:
“We rely on people who are on the front lines
• Alerts and notifications: can be set up by
and in the field who see suspicious activity to report
individual users as a way to get a real time text
it, including people in the private sector,” said
message or email warnings of a BOLO or LES alerts
O’Brien, “but we can’t investigate unless you make that
• GIS Mapping: secured mapping feature
notification.”
that all users can access. Features included in the
Speaking with emergency managers and personnel predeveloped mapping layers are real time weather/
at the Emergency Management Association of Georgia natural disasters, biohazard, agriculture and
Summit in Savannah on April 17, O’Brien urged them to transportation map overlays.
use the state’s Homeland Security Information Network
• HSIN Web Conferencing: can be used to
to submit suspicious activity reports, or SARs.
live stream vital information or used for meetings with
Launched by the federal government in 2010, the
stakeholders.
“If You See Something, Say Something” campaign is an
O’Brien and Polynice want emergency managers
initiative to get the public to help federal agencies, as
and law enforcement to know this resource exists
well as local law enforcement, identify potential terrorist and is there to help protect their community. Citizen
activity happening in their communities.
reporting has dropped off considerably in recent years,
“We’re not talking about the guys selling dope on
especially since there hasn’t been a major incident as of
the street corner, we’re talking about suspicious activity, late.
lone wolf type issues,” said O’Brien.
“Without those reports, we’re destined for failure
Through this push for more awareness, the agency’s and just waiting for the next incident,” said O’Brien.
goal is to make citizens more vigilant and provide
“We don’t take action on every SAR that comes in, we
them with the tools needed to take action if they see
vet them. But it’s those few that lead us to a critical tip
something suspicious.
that may stop that next incident from happening, so
Michael Polynice, GEMA/HS HSIN Coordinator,
we’ve got to get our folks to report them.”Although it is
travels all over the state training emergency managers
still critical for law enforcement to report SARs based on
and law enforcement on how to access and use
what citizens have relayed to them, O’Brien says what’s
the system at no cost to their agencies. HSIN is a
most important is for responders working in the field
web-based platform for sensitive, but unclassified,
with the public on daily basis to utilize HSIN.