In 2004, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) established five "homeland security planning regions" to receive funding from Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Metropolitan Area Planning Council which manages DHS grants for Homeland Security Advisory Councils set up for four of these regions: North East Homeland Security Advisory Council (NERAC); Central Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (CRHSAC); Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC); and Southeast Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council (SRAC).
Like other "Homeland Security" initiatives, under cover of "counterterrorism" and "disaster preparedness" these councils seek to further integrate local, state, and federal police forces and militarize them for the suppression of popular uprisings and for urban warfare. (See separate entry on Homeland Security) Meeting minutes of the advisory councils show consistent spending on equipment and training for "Law Enforcement Council" (LECs) in the corresponding regions. LECs are officially private professional organizations that link regional police forces to share equipment, train together in military style exercises, and form SWAT teams. LECs have attempted to use their status as private corporations to deny public records requests about their activities.
As of 2022, WRHSC leadership included the following members: Sheriff Bowler (WRHSC Chair) and Lt. Col. Thomas Grady of the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office; Chief John Dearborn of the Longmeadow Fire Department (WRHSC Vice Chair); Chief Stephen Kozloski of the Monson Police Department; Chief Michael Wynn of the Pittsfield Police Department; and Chief John Paciorek of the Deerfield Police Department.
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The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) is one of five "homeland security planning regions" which the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) established in 2004 to receive funding from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS grants for WRHSAC are managed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Like other "Homeland Security" initiatives, under cover of "counterterrorism" these councils seek to further integrate local, state, and federal police forces and militarize them for the suppression of popular uprisings and for urban warfare. Meeting minutes of the advisory councils show consistent spending on equipment and training for "Law Enforcement Council" (LECs) in the corresponding regions. LECs are officially private professional organizations that link regional police forces to share equipment, train together in military style exercises, and form SWAT teams. LECs have attempted to use their status as private corporations to deny public records requests about their activities.
As of 2022, Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council leadership included the following members: Chair. Sheriff Bowler /Lt. Col. Thomas Grady, Berkshire County Sheriff's Office; Vice Chair, Chief John Dearborn, Longmeadow Fire Department; Corrections, Sheriff Bowler /Maj. Thomas Grady, Berkshire County Sheriff's Office; Law Enforcement, Chief Stephen Kozloski, Monson Police Department; Law Enforcement, Chief Michael Wynn, Pittsfield Police Department; and Law Enforcement, Chief John Paciorek, Deerfield Police Department.
As of 2022, WRHSC leadership included Chief Michael Wynn of the Pittsfield Police Department.
As of 2022, leadership of the Western Region Homeland Security Council (WRHSC) included Berkshire County Sheriff Bowler (WRHSC Chair) and Berkshire County Sheriff Lt. Col. Thomas Grady.
As of 2022, WRHSC leadership included Chief Stephen Kozloski of the Monson Police Department.
As of 2022, WRHSC leadership included Deerfield Police Chief John Paciorek.