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Lee TV to Air Coast Guard Video on Security Issues
Jun 21, 2007 Contact: J. Keith Smith, Lee Co. Public Resources LEE TV TO AIR COAST GUARD VIDEO ON SECURITY ISSUES Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, Florida (June 21, 2007) -- America's Waterway Watch is similar to the Coast Watch program of World War II, which caused the early growth of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, a group of citizen-volunteers who were mobilized as a uniformed, civilian component of the Coast Guard to scan the coast for U-boats and saboteurs attempting to infiltrate the shores of the United States. Today, America's Waterway Watch goes one step further: It calls on ordinary citizens like you who spend much of their time on and around America's waterways to report suspicious activity in and around the area where they live, work and play. America's Waterway Watch is a public outreach program, encouraging participants to simply report suspicious activity to the Coast Guard and/or other law enforcement agencies. Unlike some Neighborhood Watch programs, for example, you are not formally joining an organization -- there are no meetings, membership cards or membership requirements -- and you do not become an agent of the Coast Guard or any other law enforcement agency. A special broadcast of America's Waterway Watch will air on Lee County Television 8:30 P.M. every Friday for the next few weeks. Lee TV is the County's 24-hour government access channel, is brought to you by the Division of Public Resources. Lee TV provides residents and visitors with information about Lee County Government as well as public safety and state related news. Lee TV airs on the ComCast Cable System, Channel 11 and in Cape Coral on cable Channel 16. The 20-minute informative video introduces America's Waterway Watch. It provides examples of suspicious activities and tells the public and maritime industry how to respond when they see them. You should always remember that people are not suspicious, behavior is. And Known as "America's Volunteer Lifesavers" the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established by Congress in 1939 to assist the Coast Guard in promoting boating safety. It boasts more than 29,000 members from all walks of life who receive special training so that they may be a functional part of Coast Guard Forces. Auxiliarists assist the Coast Guard in non-law enforcement programs such as public education, vessel safety checks, safety patrols, search and rescue, maritime security and environmental protection and Coast Guard Academy introduction programs for youth. To learn more about the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Lee County visit the website at http://www.Aux91FMB.org or call 888-25 |