Anti-terrorism money on hold

SOUTH BEND -- Indiana's public-safety agencies stand ready to do their part in the fight against terrorism, but many continue to wait for federal anti-terrorism money they were promised more than a year ago.\nOfficials say money from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is critical to purchasing specialized equipment needed to respond to terrorist attacks.\n"Funding is a key issue. A lot of mayors have been screaming that their cities need funds for homeland security," said South Bend Police Chief Thomas Fautz.\nFor instance, many police departments need gas masks to protect officers responding to chemical or biological attacks. Some departments have older silicone gas masks, but they are not effective against chemicals such as mustard or sarin gas.\nThe Indiana State Emergency Management Agency is replacing some silicone masks with newer rubber ones, but the new masks cost twice as much as older models.\n"Instead of buying radar detectors, we're buying gas masks," said Mishawaka Police Chief Tony Hazen. "One of the areas we're running behind on is training for chemical warfare. We hadn't been used to doing that."\nThe Bush administration pledged $3.5 billion for state and local agencies last year in its proposed 2003 federal budget. But less than $1 billion was appropriated, and that did not come until last month.\nAnother $3.5 billion has been proposed for this year, but budget officials have cautioned that the actual amount may total less than $1 billion.\nMany agencies are adjusting to broader roles since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. For example, the South Bend Fire Department's hazardous-materials unit would be expanded under a state proposal.\nThe team now covers all of St. Joseph County, but state plans call for it to expand to eight counties.\nNew equipment will be needed to protect firefighters against chemical and biological agents, South Bend Fire Chief Luther Taylor said.\nOfficials are also excited by a portable chemical analyzer capable of analyzing substances at an emergency scene and comparing them to a database of more than 6,000 compounds. Authorities can often learn in about 20 seconds what type of hazard they are confronting.\nThe device is so sophisticated that when he tested it on a cooking oil, it even determined what brand the oil was.\nThe analyzer is now used in New York City, Washington and throughout Florida. The only drawback is its cost: about $40,000.\nPolice chiefs also are awaiting state money to help pay for a new statewide 800-megahertz communication system that will allow state and local safety agencies to communicate with each other.\nIt is slated to be rolled out in northern Indiana later this year. The cost of the system has been estimated at $80 million.