Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry
Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry
Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry
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Question from BSC: Do we need to look at “Gridding” so that if direct towers are lost,<br />
temporary towers can be used? Yes. The county is currently evaluating a quadruple redundant<br />
system for this very reason.<br />
Question from BSC: What is your relationship with DPS? Outstanding. Though we are<br />
geographically isolated, we must create relationships with <strong>the</strong> adjoining counties and state<br />
agencies.<br />
Question from BSC: Do you have enough qualified analysts to help you? No, not in house.<br />
In house <strong>the</strong>re is an organized crime unit. They are very proud <strong>of</strong> TDEX, which has 17<br />
jurisdictions on that system. There is a problem trying to get <strong>the</strong> federal government to share<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir information. Washington DC does not seem willing to share, but <strong>the</strong> locals and state<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficials do this easily. There are gaps in analytical capability.<br />
Question from BSC: Would you benefit by having a dedicated analyst? Yes.<br />
B. Lu<strong>the</strong>r Kim, Chief <strong>of</strong> Police and <strong>Security</strong>, Port <strong>of</strong> Corpus Christi<br />
Port <strong>of</strong> Corpus Christi is <strong>the</strong> sixth largest in terms <strong>of</strong> tonnage.<br />
Pre 9/11 security efforts at <strong>the</strong> port included fences to prevent <strong>the</strong>ft, minimal lighting, and<br />
security guards for access control and loss prevention.<br />
Question from BSC: Can <strong>the</strong> s<strong>of</strong>tware be programmed to only detect people and not false<br />
positives like dogs and deer? Yes.<br />
The control room is <strong>the</strong> backbone <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> closed circuit TV system.<br />
The police department began in /2 /0 with 1 <strong>of</strong>ficers whose primary mission was<br />
<br />
security/counterterrorism; secondary mission – law enforcement.<br />
<strong>Security</strong> funding - Federal grants <strong>of</strong> $2 M, state HLS grants $500K, port funds, about $6M,<br />
total = $29M. $29M is enough to buy chairs, but not for people to sit in <strong>the</strong> chairs.<br />
Question from BSC: Has Corpus decided not to tax <strong>the</strong> companies that use <strong>the</strong> port to help<br />
generate funds for law enforcement needs? Yes. We can tax, but <strong>the</strong> port is a government<br />
agency that is expected to make a pr<strong>of</strong>it through user fees. The budget <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> port is about<br />
$27M.<br />
Question from BSC: If you have an increase in security personnel, what is <strong>the</strong> state’s appropriate<br />
role to assist? How can we best partner, in light <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> metrics that we face here? Enhanced<br />
communication, including systems that interface with local law enforcement agencies.<br />
<br />
Question from BSC: Have you done a comprehensive threat assessment for <strong>the</strong> port? Yes,<br />
and ano<strong>the</strong>r is scheduled for <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> next year. Is it done in house? The assessment<br />
is so large it must be contracted out. When you have a suspicious event, do you have <strong>the</strong><br />
ability to use this information and get it to <strong>the</strong> locals rapidly? No. Would it help if DPS did<br />
a statewide comprehensive port assessment? Yes, but DPS might not be <strong>the</strong> appropriate<br />
agency to spearhead that, because <strong>the</strong>y don’t have port experience to conduct such an<br />
analysis. The <strong>of</strong>ficers aren’t looking at things from an immediate perspective, but are looking<br />
six months down <strong>the</strong> road.<br />
Appendix C: Public Hearing and Open Meeting Minutes