BOSTON (AP) - The state's homeland security preparedness is at a dangerous level, in part because Massachusetts communities have lost more than 1,700 public safety personnel since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, according to a Senate audit released Thursday.
The audit found 83 percent of police chiefs and 92 percent of fire chiefs say they are ill-equipped to respond to a terror attack. Part of the reason, they say, is a staffing shortage: 945 police officers and 798 firefighters have been lost through layoffs or attrition, the survey found.
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'this confirms our worst fears,'' said Sen. Marc. R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, chairman of the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. ''With the increasing public safety demands on our cities and towns, this is simply unacceptable.''
Are we at all surprised? SATURN comes and goes. Grants for Homeland Security are used for everything but. PO, FF, EMT's are laid of or take early retirement. local emergency management agencies do nothing. MEMA does some but could do much more like internet based courses. I do not know what is going on in other states but this is a joke. The flights on Sept 11 left from this state. We should be spending more money per person then any one else to make sure we can prevent and respond to future threats.
The audit found 83 percent of police chiefs and 92 percent of fire chiefs say they are ill-equipped to respond to a terror attack. Part of the reason, they say, is a staffing shortage: 945 police officers and 798 firefighters have been lost through layoffs or attrition, the survey found.
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'this confirms our worst fears,'' said Sen. Marc. R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, chairman of the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. ''With the increasing public safety demands on our cities and towns, this is simply unacceptable.''
Are we at all surprised? SATURN comes and goes. Grants for Homeland Security are used for everything but. PO, FF, EMT's are laid of or take early retirement. local emergency management agencies do nothing. MEMA does some but could do much more like internet based courses. I do not know what is going on in other states but this is a joke. The flights on Sept 11 left from this state. We should be spending more money per person then any one else to make sure we can prevent and respond to future threats.
