FBI director stops in Jacksonville, addresses issues

Counterterrorism, cyber security among top priorities

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As leader of the country's top law enforcement agency, FBI Director James Comey deals with threats from across the globe.

Stopping in Jacksonville on Wednesday, Comey talked about a potential threat close to home -- Twitter messages threatening a shooting on the University of Florida campus.

Although it's believed to be a hoax, Comey said it's something the FBI takes seriously.

"If people are going to make fake threats, we are going to find them and hammer them, because we've got to send a message that that terrifies innocent folks and it wastes resources, very precious resources," Comey said.

It was just one of many issues Comey talked about at the FBI Field Office in Jacksonville, but he said counterterrorism is the FBI's top priority. Groups springing from al Qaeda are growing, and fighters from across the U.S. are being attracted to join.

"They are folks who are attracted from all over the United States, all walks of life," Comey said. "It's white people, it's black people, it's recent converts, it's immigrants. So it's hard to say what the demographic is, which makes the challenge of finding them all the more difficult."

Comey said another issue is cyber security. The FBI warned active duty military members to be thoughtful about what they put on social media and about sharing details about work or family.

"You got to ask yourself, 'So if a terrorist with ISIL was going to read my Facebook page, what would I want them to see and not see?'" Comey said. "I don't want to freak people out, I just want them to be prudent, because we know they are bent on doing harm to people in uniform."

Comey said combating threats is a team effort, and he thanked local law enforcement for the role they play. But he said hearing from everyday people is critical, too.

"If something makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, either in person or online, there's a reason you're having that reaction," Comey said. "Just let us know. We'll take a look at it. If it's nothing, it's nothing. No one will ever know about it. But if it's something, you may have stopped something very, very important."

Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford and other law enforcement leaders met with Comey beforehand to talk about issues they face. The sheriff said the meeting went well, and Comey praised the teamwork between law enforcement officials in northeast Florida.