Florida Today

September 30, 2009 

Port Canaveral’s police force gets major boost from federal stimulus money

Since the 9/11 terror attacks, Port Canaveral has been among the nation’s major ports working to toughen security.

The need is obvious:

It’s the second busiest cruise ship port in North America with 4.4 million passengers passing through its gates. It’s home to a large fuel tank farm scheduled to open next year. And it’s an economic engine of growing size and importance for Central Florida.

Port commissioners took a big step forward last year with creation of the Port Canaveral Police Department, the first such seaport agency in Florida. Now the skeletal staff of four officers is about to substantially grow.

The port has received a nearly $5 million grant through the federal government’s economic stimulus program that will allow the department to hire 18 officers, pay their salaries for three years and provide around-the-clock patrols, officials say.

The grant will also pay for vehicles, some equipment and the purchase of the port’s first fireboat.

Port officials were smart to seek the funds, which are part of $150 million in stimulus money targeted for guarding port infrastructure from terrorism and enhance overall port security nationwide. As a result, more Brevard County jobs will be created.

That makes it money well spent and another example — along with saving the jobs of 900 Space Coast teachers — of how stimulus money is working in a positive way for our community.