State leaders renew 'If you see something, say something' campaign

Officials: It all starts with an old slogan, and you

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A gas station in Tallahassee doesn’t seem like the place where state officials would launch counterterrorism efforts, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and local police said it’s just the spot where preventing the next attack could start.

“We have a litany of examples where individual citizens could have made a difference, but just for whatever reason, (they) didn’t mention it to law enforcement,” Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said.

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State leaders are now on a mission to ramp up counterterrorism efforts, and say it starts with an old slogan and you.
 
Officials are putting a new emphasis on the idea of, “If you see something, say something.” The slogan went mainstream after Sept. 11, 2001.
 
Stickers will start going up on gas pumps around Florida as a reminder to people to report suspicious activity.
 
Perhaps people may be complacent, or afraid to help out, said Rick Swearing, the commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
 
“It could be they’re afraid of -- there’s a culture of political correctness here, maybe they’re afraid they’re reporting something that’s really nothing -- I don’t really know,” he said. “But all we’re saying is, if you see something suspicious, if your gut tells you something is wrong, report it. That’s our job to determine if there’s something there or it really was nothing.”
 
The initiative is part of an overall counterterrorism plan the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is shaping. The department has requested an additional $6.2 million next year to create 46 new counterterrorism positions.
 
“I certainly hope all those people will be busy with the amount of tips that come in,” Swearingen said.
 
The department said there are no specific threats that inspired the extra emphasis on the “If you see something, say something” campaign.
 
To report suspicious activity, people are encouraged to call 855-FLA-SAFE, or report it on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s website.