Colorado's revamped security plan faces DNC test
Ritter reorganized efforts after audits criticized strategy
Ed Sealoverand Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News
Published July 28, 2008 at 7:14 p.m.
Updated July 28, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.
The Democratic National Convention next month will pose a major challenge for the state's revamped homeland security effort, which had been criticized for its spending and planning.
The convention, hosted by Denver Aug. 25-28, will "put to a test . . . all of the precautions, all of the steps that have been taken in regard to homeland security," said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, during a meeting Monday of federal and state officials.
Gov. Bill Ritter reorganized state planning under a new Office of Homeland Security after a series of federal and state audits faulted Colorado's efforts.
In December, a federal audit found that Colorado officials failed to tightly monitor how they spent more than $156 million in grants from 2003 to 2006 and found that $7.8 million was misspent.
Another audit criticized the state for a lack of planning and administration of homeland security projects.
Over the past five months, Colorado National Guard Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, who heads the homeland security office, met with public safety officials across the state to redefine Colorado's strategy. He also worked to get the grant program under control.
Impressed by response
On Monday, Ritter announced that Colorado will receive $20.8 million in federal Homeland Security grants this year, a 4.5 percent increase from last year.
Garry Briese, the regional administrator for the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, said he was "very impressed" by Ritter's response to the audits, which has led to stronger cooperation between federal and state agencies.
"If there's a model for getting an audit and improving on that audit, I think Colorado's it," Briese said during the meeting. It was called by U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, to assess the state's homeland security strategy.
Improvements needed
But sheriffs, fire chiefs and emergency medical services personnel said there are still things to improve.
Tops among them is a federal rule that limits how much cities and counties can spend on oversight of security programs. The cap leaves communities without enough money to properly administer federal grants, which was a problem identified by the audits, said Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson.
Also, the state should foster better communication among nine regional planning organizations that oversee homeland security, said Gary Severson, executive director of the 10-county Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.
This could lead to several problems, he said. One example: if officials aren't talking with each other, rural communities might not be prepared to handle an influx of evacuees in the event of a terrorist attack on Denver.
Perlmutter, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said he will take concerns he heard back to Washington. But he is pleased with the progress he has seen so far from the state.
State Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who attended the summit, said that she has "full confidence now that the grant program is under control."
sealovere@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438 The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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July 28, 2008
1:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Radar writes:
i would be willing to bet the Dillon Res. mess did not get mentioned
July 28, 2008
2:08 p.m.
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Vector049 writes:
Smoke and mirrors.
July 28, 2008
2:18 p.m.
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roger44 writes:
They just started lying to the feds is all, learned how to cover up their mistakes. Did Estes Park ever pay back those funds they used to build a weight room?
July 28, 2008
2:29 p.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Homeland Security = Buy More Guns
July 28, 2008
3:14 p.m.
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Scott writes:
Of course the Dillion Dam Road fiasco wasn't mentioned. That would take away from a bunch of snivel serpents patting each other on the back and s_cking up to the losers at the federal government for more money.
Scott
July 28, 2008
3:49 p.m.
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over_your_head writes:
roger44 - your as much a dumb-a$$ the stupid channel 9 reporter who first "broke" that "story".... The money was never miss-spent. DHS administers many programs and funds. Those $ were NOT meant to fight terrorism but to help prevent heart disease, the leading cause of death among firefighters. you and lingling can both go fishing for clues.....
July 28, 2008
4:03 p.m.
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jackwoehr writes:
See my blog entry about Dillon Dam Road: "Homeland security or nut-case mentality?" http://denver.yourhub.com/Evergreen/B...
July 28, 2008
9:05 p.m.
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unfug writes:
way to go repubs-
create the biggest bureaucracy in the history of the world and sit back and complain about how it's not 'allfiggered out'
Bravo-
Next stop Iran
July 29, 2008
8:08 a.m.
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vet64 writes:
Yes, it will be a test but for upholding the 1st Amendment. Let's hope the police will keep their hands off their guns and tasers.