Secretary Napolitano Announces "If You See Something, Say Something™" Campaign Partnership with NBA

Washington, D.C. - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today joined National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern to announce a new partnership between the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) "If You See Something, Say Something™" public awareness campaign and the NBA—an effort that will help ensure the security of fans, players and employees by encouraging fans to identify and report suspicious activity.

"Every citizen plays a critical role in identifying and reporting suspicious activities and threats," said Secretary Napolitano. "Our partnership with the NBA to bring the "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign to professional basketball events throughout the nation is a vital part of our efforts to ensure the safety of players, employees and fans."

The "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign—originally implemented by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and now licensed to DHS for a nationwide campaign—is a simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

The "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign partnership with the NBA will "tip-off" during the NBA's "Jam Session" events and NBA All Star Game this coming weekend in Los Angeles, with the "If You See Something, Say Something™" message appearing on TV monitors and other print materials around the arenas. During today's announcement, Secretary Napolitano and Commissioner Stern also applauded the critical efforts of the City of Los Angeles—including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Los Angeles Police Department and iWatch campaign in providing robust security at this weekend's events.

Over the past six months, DHS has worked with its federal, state, local and private sector partners, as well as the Department of Justice, to expand the "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign as well as the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative—an administration effort to train state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators related to terrorism, crime and other threats; standardize how those observations are documented and analyzed; and expand and enhance the sharing of those reports with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and DHS—to communities throughout the country.

The "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign has recently been launched with the National Football League (NFL), as well as in Minnesota and New Jersey, more than 9,000 federal buildings nationwide, Walmart, Mall of America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Amtrak, the Washington Metroplitan Area Transit Authority, the general aviation industry, and state and local fusion centers across the country.

In the coming months, DHS will continue to expand the "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign nationally with public education materials and outreach tools designed to help America's business, communities and citizens remain vigilant and plan an active role in keeping the country safe.

This article was sponsored by Police Leadership Books.