After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the nation began to bolster security initiatives. Florida was no exception, forming what is now a national model in their Regional Domestic Security Task Forces (RDSTF). The RDSTF concept brought local and state agencies together to form partnerships enhancing homeland security across several disciplines.

Of course, Florida is a "Water State" and state officials were concerned about vulnerability in the maritime domain. The state’s 8,246 miles of tidal coastline, 14 major seaports, 46 billion dollars worth of maritime trade, 14 million cruise line embarkations and disembarkations, 12,000 miles of rivers and streams, three million acres of lakes and ponds, and five nuclear power reactors at three nuclear power plants presented a significant security issue. In addition, the state’s vulnerability to natural disaster affecting coastal communities showed further need for partnership on the water.

State leadership saw this need early on and they turned to FWC as the lead law enforcement agency on state waters, to address the threat. FWC was asked to coordinate a revolutionary concept that is fast becoming a national standard. The State’s Waterborne Response Teams (WRT) were formed. Now numbering 41 across the state, these teams, each with seven highly trained officers, were assembled from local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and the FWC, resulting in the ability to respond, in a standardized manner anywhere in the state. FWC has been the driving force behind the WRT Concept. First, they guided the state in development of the “WRT Protocol,” the standard operating procedures manual for the effort. Then the agency developed standardized training that is being rolled out statewide. Finally, FWC has coordinated the application for, and acquisition of federal grant monies through the Department of Homeland Security’s State Homeland Security Grant Program to fund the teams. These grant dollars, over the past four years, have bought equipment for all of the 41 teams and provided funds to facilitate their specialized training. The training has also become a national model, being recognized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators as the standard by which teams across the nation will be trained. Over five million dollars in grants have been administered by FWC with 1.2 million pending approval in 2009. A full 80 percent of that money has been distributed to local and county teams to build their capabilities in the maritime law enforcement venue.

FWC also coordinates and provides command and control to teams as they respond to incidents and special events statewide. For example, WRT teams from across the state operated as a force multiplier for U.S. Navy security operations during a special 11-week mission involving daily movements of U. S. Naval nuclear powered vessels in and out of Jacksonville. The WRTs working with the U.S. Coast Guard were so effective that Naval vessel commanders commented that they had never felt more secure in any port in the world. FWC planned, commanded, and oversaw the summer long event bringing in state, county, and local teams from as far away as Miami and Ft. Myers to prove their mobility and effectiveness.

The result is that Florida, with FWC as the leader, has developed the most comprehensive maritime domain law enforcement partnership in the nation. The concept is being examined nationwide as a standard to emulate. All of this has been done with the dedication and expertise of FWC personnel.