Police in Florida undergo terror training

Rural areas face big challenges when it comes to terrorism

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The massacre at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando, the shootings at the Ft. Lauderdale airport and the assault on police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, all have created an urgency to train law enforcement officers in preventing and responding to acts of terror.

“Know your enemy as you know yourself,” said Commissioner Rick Swearingen, of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “We are fighting radical Islamic extremism. You can't win that if you're afraid to say it.”

More than 350 law enforcement leaders from across the state are gathered at Florida Public Safety to hone their skills. The three-day conference on terrorism is taking place just outside the state Capitol. It’s focusing on prevention and the response in rural counties.

Scarce resources can make it harder for smaller departments to effectively identify and respond to terror threats.

“But they're still facing those same challenges,” said Steve Casey, the executive director of the Florida Sheriffs Association. “So it's important for them to come together, collaborate (and) share resources across county lines.”

Participants are hearing from law enforcement agencies that have dealt with attacks. For example, investigators with the Baton Rouge Police Department experienced an incident last year involving a lone gunman who shot six police officers, killing three of them.

“We have some things we did right, we have some things we did wrong and if we can help another agency not go through what we went through, then it would be tremendously helpful,” said police Chief Carl Dabadie, Jr., of the Baton Rouge police.

The conference also focuses on increasing public participation in law enforcement. Officials want to remind members of the public: If you see something, say something.

“And I take it one step further -- do something. Pick up the phone (and) make a call,” Casey said.

The downside for the training: participants were told there’s likely no end to terrorism in their lifetimes.

The conference lasts until Thursday. The governor and attorney general will attend parts of the event.