Building Waterborne Response CapabilitiesDeveloping and Growing Capabilities through Standardization and Partnership

Captain Brad WilliamsFWC Statewide Mutual Aid Operations ChiefFlorida Statewide WRT CoordinatorNASBLA “BOAT” Senior InstructorMarine Tactical Applications Global, Dir of Operations

The Need for Maritime Capabilities

Changing Times….,..

Building a Program

• Strategies• Plans• Implementation• Ongoing Review• Growth• Buy In and Support

PARTNERSHIP IS KEY

• LOCAL• REGIONAL• STATEWIDE• NATIONAL

PARTNERSHIP = POWER

“Power consists in one's capacity to link his will with the purpose of others, to lead by reason and a gift of cooperation.”

Woodrow Wilson (1856 - 1924)

Remember

This is not “THE” way.It is “A” way

Strategic Initiative

• VISION – Working together for a safe and secure future.

• MISSION – Strengthen our coordinated capability to prepare,

prevent, protect, respond and recover from all hazards through interdisciplinary and interagency consensus and commitment to build and rely on a strong regional collaboration.

You must have a planLocal, Regional, Statewide, National

• Goal 1: PREPARE for all hazards, natural or man-made, to include terrorism.

• Goal 2: PREVENT, preempt and deter acts of terrorism. • Goal 3: PROTECT citizens, visitors, and critical infrastructure. • Goal 4: RESPOND in an immediate, effective, and coordinated

manner, focused on the victims of the attack. • Goal 5: RECOVER quickly and restore our way of life following

a terrorist act.

Florida’s Domestic Security Model

The Regional Consept

The Waterborne Response Team“WRT”

• Domestic Security Oversight Committee (DSOC)– State Working Group (SWG)• Law Enforcement Response Committee

– Waterborne Response Team Sub-Committee» Statewide WRT CoordinatorRegional WRT Coordinator(s)Primary WRTSecondary WRTTertiary WRT

WRT Team Makeup

• Team = 4 squads = 28• Squad = 6 Operators and One Supervisor

– Four 3 man boats on Alpha-Bravo Shift• Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) = Special Asset– Minimum 4 man crew

WRT Missions

• PRE-PLANNED EVENT SECURITY – PERIMETER PROTECTION AND ACCESS CONTROL– LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY AND PATROL– VESSEL INTERDICTION AND INSPECTIONS– VESSEL ESCORT– AREA SURVEILLANCE AND INTELLIGENCE GATHERING– TRANSPORTATION/LOGISTICAL SUPPORT OF SPECIALIZED TEAMS– DIGNITARY PROTECTION– TRANSPORT/LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR OTHER RESPONSE

ELEMENTS– INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTIONS (BRIDGES, WATERWAYS, ETC)

WRT Missions• FEDERAL WATERWAY EXCLUSIONARY ZONE

ENFORCEMENT MISSIONS – ACCESS ENFORCEMENT– PORTS– WATERWAYS– CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE– DIGNITARY PROTECTION– ESCORTS (CRUISE SHIPS, FREIGHTERS)– AREA PATROL AND VESSEL INTERDICTION– AREA SURVEILLANCE AND INTELLIGENCE GATHERING

WRT Missions• DISASTER AND CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE MISSIONS

– IMMEDIATE LIFE-SAVING MISSIONS – RAPID IMPACT ASSESSMENT– EMERGENCY ACCESS TO SITE– SEARCH AND RESCUE– EVACUATION OF VICTIMS– RECOVERY OF VICTIMS– PERIMETER PROTECTION– SITE/SCENE SECURITY– DELIVERY OF CRITICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES– TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO OTHER RDSTF TEAMS

(DIVE, FORENSIC, ETC)

WRT Missions

• DHS- ELEVATED SECURITY THREAT LEVEL / INCREASED MARSEC LEVEL – (FEDERAL WATERWAY EXCLUSIONARY ZONE

ENFORCEMENT (SECTION 327.461 F.S.))– AREA SURVEILLANCE & INTELLIGENCE GATHERING– BORDER PROTECTION– ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION– MASS MIGRATION– TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INCIDENT

WRT Missions• ADVANCED WATERBORNE TACTICAL OPERATIONS

– RAPID MARITIME RESPONSE CAPABILITY– MARINE WRT/SWAT INTEGRATION– MARITIME FELONY RESPONSE– VESSEL INTERDICTION– BOARDING

• COMPLIANT• NON-COMPLIANT (RESIST W/O VIOLENCE)• OPPOSED (RESIST W/VIOLENCE)

– PRISONER ARREST AND TRANSPORT

What we are striving for

• Standardized TypingLeads to uniformity when deployed to other regions (and other states)Leads to uniformity of construction of

teams throughout the state (and the nation)

• Standardized TrainingEveryone is on the same pageConsistencySustainability

The WRT Precept

• Developed to answer the need for multi-partner waterborne security, and respond to state issues that don’t rise to federal threshold (disasters, pre-planned events, national events.)

• Utilizes existing personnel, equipment, expertise, and assets to multiply the force.

• Through multi-partnering, more resources are brought together to support the US Coast Guard and ensure the safety and security of our state.

The WRT Precept

• When not activated, WRT officers are on the water providing law enforcement presence, services and capabilities.

• Utilizes tactical training skills and specialized equipment to deter threats while performing core mission duties (95% of officer time is spent performing core missions.)

• A model for a national standard in the areas of – Protocol– Training– Typing

Funding……. The old question

• Department of Homeland Security– SHSGP– Port Security– Buffer Zone Protection– UASI

Florida Example

• 2006-$1Million• 2007/2008-$1.6Million• 2009-$1.3Million Requested– Partial Award

• 2010-$791,833 Requested, Awaiting Decision

The Future• Florida WRT has been recognized as THE National

Standard by FEMA, DHS, USCG, CBP, and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)

• Training has become the National Standard• New Bills in Congress to bolster State/Local Maritime

Security (pending legislation)• WRT involved in Preventive Radiation/Nuclear Detection

Mission on the Water

We Can Help You

• NASBLA “BOAT” Program• Subject Matter Expert Consultants– Building a program– Grant writing– Training– Program Accreditation

For more Information Contact:

Captain Brad Williams

Phone: 850-582-8268Email: bdwilli@cox.net