Welcome to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security
The role of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security is mandated by both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Kentucky General Assembly. Essentially, it has the following responsibilities:
- Counterterrorism, including threat and vulnerability assessments, suspicious activity intelligence gathering and analysis, classified information sharing with law-enforcement sources, and provide guidance on the prevention or mitigation of terrorist activities/attacks.
- Community safety and security, including first responder training, Neighborhood Watch support, the management of Eyes & Ears on Kentucky, community presentations about personal safety and assistance to Citizen Emergency Response Teams.
- Administrative oversight of the Kentucky Intelligence Fusion Center, which is a multi-agency of local, state and federal officers primarily engaged in law-enforcement support activities ranging from our own security analysts and GIS operatives to Kentucky State Police support personnel to the Missing and Exploited Child Center to providing work areas for the FBI, Secret Service, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Corrections and other law-enforcement agencies including the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police.
- The Kentucky e-Warrant program that improves the issuance of warrants for law-enforcement officers through high-tech means.
- Federal-grant administration to support cities, counties and agencies for acquisition of interoperable communications equipment, victim rescue gear, DHS-approved fire department and EMS equipment and devices essential in helping thwart attacks on infrastructure vital to the security and economic stability of both Kentucky and the United States.
- Law Enforcement Protection Program to provide funds for body armor, firearms, and electronic-control weapons for law-enforcement agencies.
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Mission Statement |
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"Lead the Commonwealth's coordination and collaboration efforts with public and private preparedness partners to ensure a Ready and Prepared Kentucky."
Click the following link to download our Mission Statement
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Homeland Security Information Network |
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The Homeland Security Information Network was created to interface with existing information-sharing networks to support the diverse Communities of Interest engaged in preventing, protecting from, responding to, and recovering from all threats, hazards, and incidents under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security.
HSIN is uniquely qualifed to meet the missions of DHS and its information-sharing partners because of its ability to support and enhance collaboration among COIs that represent all levels of government including federal, state and local offices.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/HSIN.
Interested parties can contact Shelby Lawson, Deputy Executive Director of Operations at the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, about becoming a member of the HSIN law-enforcement community. He can be reached at shelby.lawson@ky.gov.
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Recent News |
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Eyes & Ears on Kentucky, an anonymous telephone tip line for reporting suspicious activity, will be featured by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville on Aug. 20-30.
Eyes & Ears enables anyone to report suspicious activity that might logically pose a threat to individuals, community or the commonwealth of Kentucky. Dialing the tip line—1-866-393-6659—connects callers with the Kentucky Intelligence Fusion Center. Information is then forwarded to the appropriate law-enforcement agency, other appropriate first responders, or because of details provided, to an intelligence specialist for quick analysis.
“Citizens are safer when potential harm is intercepted and prevented or at least reduced in magnitude. Eyes & Ears can be a key component for community security,” said Tom Preston, KOHS executive director. “If you see something suspicious, whether it is an irregular activity or item you believe dangerous, report it!
“We will be in instant contact with the appropriate law enforcement agency or other first responders while concurrently providing intelligence analysis where necessary and appropriate.”
An inflatable Fire Safety House for children and informational exhibit also will be showcased by the KOHS at the state fair.
The exhibit will be in the Main Street section and the Safety Fire House will be across the aisle in the Kidz Biz area, both in the South Wing of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.
The state fair is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
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H1N1 Influenza |
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For the latest information about H1N1 influenza, visit www.flu.gov.
Kentucky Public Health Commissioner William Hacker, M.D., is urging health-care providers and public-health officials to be on the alert for potential cases of swine flu in Kentucky.
For more information on swine flu and updated case counts, visit cdc.gov/swineflu, healthalerts.ky.gov or www.pandemicflu.gov.
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