Hartford, Ky. to Get Anti-Terrorism Security Exam

Dec. 22--HARTFORD -- As part of a statewide community preparedness program, Ohio County schools, factories and government buildings will be evaluated next year as possible terrorist targets.

Security at the sites will be evaluated to see if defense against attacks and response plans for emergencies are adequate.

Then, money will be available to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for fixing the flaws.

Hartford was selected as one of the next 15 communities to be evaluated by the Kentucky Community Preparedness Program, after 60 were completed this year. But any site in the county that local law enforcement says could be vulnerable will be checked.

"We don't think a community stops at the city limit," said Jacinta Manning with the Kentucky Community Preparedness Program.

A team of assessors will visit the county in January or soon after, she said, then they'll compile a report for each site visited, along with recommendations for fixing problems.

If local agencies follow through on the recommendations, they can be reimbursed for all expenses up to $10,000.

So far, the program's been paying off in Kentucky communities.

"We're seeing a lot of changes be made," Manning said. Communities develop "a whole new outlook" when it comes to security.

Many times, people think of terrorism as an act by a foreign stranger, she said. In rural communities, that's not as likely, but small towns need to be prepared for home-grown terrorism too.

"School shooting is an act of terrorism," she said. "That maybe doesn't fit a stereotypical idea of what terrorism is. But it's highly unlikely an international terrorist would hit a small area in Kentucky. It's more likely someone in that community could try to cause mass violence."

Hartford Police Chief Daniel McEnroe said he's looking forward to taking part in the process as an eye-opening experience.

"There's places we don't realize are vulnerable," McEnroe said. "Stuff we do every day and see every day that we just don't pay attention to."

The Hartford Police Department will be sharing the $10,000 worth of improvements with the Ohio County Sheriff's Department and the Beaver Dam Police Department, McEnroe said.