To thwart terrorist retaliation attempts in Cincinnati, City manager John Shirey has formed a task force of safety, health and public service employees.

        “No city in the United States of any size can be complacent and assume they won't be a target,” he said Tuesday. “We have to assume we can be a target like anyone else.”

Shirey

        To that end, Mr. Shirey says he has established the Security and Preparedness Task Force to help safeguard the city. It met for the first time Tuesday.

        Mr. Shirey appointed eight department heads to the task force.

        “We don't want to alarm people. But want to assure people we don't take anything for granted,” he said.

        Mr. Shirey asked the task force to:

        • Ensure security for employees and city facilities.

        • Train employees to oversee new security measures.

        • Train on how to deal with weapons of mass destruction.

        • Communicate with employees about these issues.

        • Coordinate efforts with public safety, other governmental agencies and the rest of the community.

        Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) Director Pat Karney will testify today before a House subcommittee on water resources and the environment about risks to wastewater infrastructure.

        Mr. Karney, a member of the national Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, will cite examples of how Hamilton County's MSD has beefed up security since the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

        Reporter Dan Klepal contributed.
       

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