Counter-Terrorism Efforts Announced in Camden County

Better safe than sorry…although we hope nothing like an international terrorist attack happens in the lake area, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office is preparing just in case.

Sergeant Scott Hines says, in response to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and possible threats of violence on U.S. territory, the Missouri Office of Homeland Security established a program utilizing specially trained local law enforcement in the case of something happening.

“They realize there was a severe lack of law enforcement officers that were trained in what to look for and how to report possible terrorist activity.”

As a result, Camden County now has three Counter Terrorism Officers on staff. The program, according to Hines, also includes a counter terrorism tip line for the general public.

“They see something that looks suspicious to them, but it’s not necessarily an emergency situation or it’s not a crime in progress, but it looks like something that might be terror related, that there’s a way for folks to report that anonymously if they want to.”

The tip form is available on the Camden County Sheriff’s website.

Depending on the perceived urgency of the tip, 9-1-1 can also be called.