Dept. of Homeland Security Grants to Fund Anti-Terrorism Efforts in Arlington, Across Region
November 29, 2011
- $1.095 million to continue administering regional license plate recognition program
- $250,000 to buy 10 mobile surveillance trailers for region
- Funds address unique security needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board today authorized the County Manager to accept two grants from the Dept. of Homeland Security that will fund regional anti-terrorism efforts administered by the Arlington County Police Department.
The grants are part of the federal Urban Areas Security Initiative, which funds the unique planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas. The goal is to help these areas build an enhanced, sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks.
License reading, mobile surveillance
ACPD will use the grants to fund administration of the National Capital Region License Plate Recognition Program, and the purchase of 10 mobile surveillance trailers.
- National Capital Region License Plate Recognition Program: An in-depth, intelligence-driven counter-terrorism program that provides surveillance of critical infrastructure locations and identifies potential terrorists. It automatically reads license plate registration numbers and then compares them to a predefined watch list obtained from the FBI’s Terrorism Watch List, NCIC/VCIN stolen vehicle and stolen license plate reports and other official intelligence resources. The systems are already being used by law enforcement agencies within the National Capital Region, encompassing the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia. However, the systems operate independently of each other and cannot share information. The new grant will expand use of the technology and require participating agencies to include it in their everyday counter-terrorism programs. Ultimately, the program will link the entire region through a real-time database.
- Mobile surveillance trailers: UASI first funded purchase of mobile counterterrorism surveillance trailers for the National Capital Region in 2008. Arlington County purchased 17 trailers at that time for the Northern Virginia Region. They are in use, but more are needed. The new grant will fund purchase of 10 more trailers. The trailers give emergency services decision makers the ability to remotely monitor special events, traffic conditions, crime scenes, emergency situations and hazardous environments in real time from a central location.
The Board voted 5-0 to authorize the County Manager to accept this grant.
For more information, visit the County website. Scroll down the Agenda of the November 19, 2011 Regular Board Meeting to Items Number 22A and 22B to read the staff reports.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
