A decade after 9/11, “homeland security” isn’t be what it used to be in Colorado, as big changes in the program were announced Wed nesday afternoon.
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security is history, and the job of managing grants and coordinating programs among state agencies moves to the Colorado Department of Public Safety, under an executive order signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper.
“We will increase the effectiveness of our programs and the accountability of our services,” James Davis, executive director of the DPS, said in a joint statement from several state agencies.
The purpose is to cut overlapping responsibilities for homeland security, jump-start public outreach, “reduce confusion” and “establish a single resource for accountability,” the agencies said.
The change is the third for a program that has funneled $354 million in federal money to Colorado governments since the terrorist attacks a decade ago.
A Denver Post story last month reported that the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security did not keep a complete computer database of how the money has been spent.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” Hickenlooper said at the time of the incomplete records, which he characterized as a byproduct of shuffling oversight among state agencies over the years.
Wednesday’s change was the result of conversations that began before Hickenlooper took office, the agencies stated.
The change takes effect immediately and isn’t expected to create any extra cost, but it will cost three state employees their jobs.
Fifteen employees move to the new Division of Homeland Security under Kevin Klein, who has been director of the state Division of Fire Safety. That agency combines with the existing Office of Preparedness and Office of Prevention and Security.
“This structure takes into account the strengths each of our agencies brings to ensure Colorado communities are empowered to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and man-made disasters,” said Reeves Brown, executive director of the Department of Local Affairs, which joined in making the announcement.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
