Ensuring the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is the primary concern of those serving as homeland security professionals in Gulfport. By enforcing guidelines determined democratically by society, local, state, and federal law enforcement and investigative officials hold those choosing to break the law accountable. These officials often conduct investigative operations over the course of several months in order to gather evidence on the root causes of crime in Gulfport, and eventually make strategic arrests accordingly.
This was recently demonstrated in Gulfport by the actions of homeland security officials in two recent cases involving weapons smuggling operations. In these instances, the Gulfport Police Department worked with other agencies such as
- ATF Bureau
- FBI
- Harrison County Sheriff’s Department
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations
- Jackson County Interdiction Team
A Future in Homeland Security
Degrees – Training for homeland security careers in Gulfport can be obtained online or through any of the law enforcement academies located in the state. Associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in homeland security provide a progressively more detailed curriculum where students can choose specific areas of focus and receive a more in-depth understanding of the field. There are several locations throughout the city where candidates can obtain a degree relevant to homeland security.
Certification – A Homeland Security Certification for Levels I-III (CHS I-III) will include instruction in the history of terrorism and the Department of Homeland Security as well as preparedness and mitigation according to the National Response Plan.
Thwarted Gun Running Operations
A 30-count firearm indictment was handed down to 15 suspects arrested after an investigation pinned them to a string of burglaries in the Southern Mississippi area. The arrests were a culmination of an undercover operation lasting over a year and half that confiscated 250 weapons with more expected to follow. 14 of the suspects were from the Gulfport and Southern Mississippi area. Because homeland security agencies were cooperating on the operation their intelligence gathering capabilities were enhanced and they could pursue suspects across county and state lines.
Having multi-jurisdictional authority would also help a team of agents in another guns trafficking case, this one involving two men attempting to smuggle over 900 rounds of ammunition, three flak jackets, 24 concealed firearms, and supplies to assemble additional weapons across the Mississippi border into Mexico. Homeland security officials have identified stopping the international flow of illegal weapons as a key priority, and having these two behind bars with their weapons confiscated undoubtedly saved countless lives.
Securing Mississippi’s international border is one of the most effective ways to keep dangerous weapons out of the United States. There are plenty of other agency collaborations besides those already mentioned, because as those working in homeland security careers in Gulfport know, teamwork nets more bad guys. The Marine Division of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office coordinates patrols with:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Mississippi Department of Fish and Wildlife
- U.S. Park Service
- U.S. Customs
- Mississippi Department of Marine Resources