A invoice proposed this week would create a neighborhood liaison throughout the New York State Police to assist alert native governments in New York to potential domestic extremism and terrorism threats.
The measure backed by Hudson Valley Democratic state Sen. Peter Harckham would additionally embody potential cyber threats.
“When a threat is directed at one of our communities or schools there needs to be the utmost cooperation and coordination between the State Police and local officials,” mentioned Harckham. “This bill will ensure that a line of communication is always open between state intelligence officials and those ‘boots on the ground’ managing a response to a threat made locally. In situations regarding terrorist and cyber threats, timely decisions need to be made with all available information.”
Harckham’s invoice is being proposed after a mass taking pictures at a Buffalo grocery store in May killed 10 individuals. A racist screed posted on-line by the alleged shooter, in addition to his on-line exercise, has led officers on the state stage to think about methods of higher monitoring the unfold of hate and extremism over the web.
New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report last week highlighting the unfold of extremism on-line and known as for modifications to how social media platforms monitor user-driven content material.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on the similar time has sought to expand efforts by regulation enforcement to concentrate on methods to spot potential assaults.
“While municipalities need to be alerted of potential threats to best prepare, we must also allow them to raise any virtual threats to the attention of the state intelligence center,” Harckham mentioned. “By establishing a local liaison, we can cement this relationship between the state and local municipalities.”
