Terrorism or crime?

By focusing on anti-terrorism efforts, is the federal government shortchanging crime fighting?

That is an argument being advanced by more mayors, police agencies and security experts these days, USA Today reports.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on such items as "bomb robots, chem-bio suits" and other equipment suitable for responding to a terrorist attack, the newspaper notes.

It goes without saying that such paraphernalia is not useful for ordinary police work.

"The simple truth is that average Americans are much more likely to find themselves victims of crime than of terrorist attack," said the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The Homeland Security Department was formed in 2003. Since then, the federal government has funneled $22.7 billion to states and cities for emergency preparedness.

The police chiefs organization wants the grant system re-examined. Some 99,000 people have been murdered in America since 9-11 and 1.4 million are victims of violent crime each year.

Ronald Ruecker of the police group said: "In terms of day-to-day crime fighting, we're far worse off than we were before 9-11."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors seems to agree. The group says that local police funding has fallen 81 percent since 2001 while an average of 34 people are shot dead every day.

Is the answer to redirect federal money from anti-terrorism uses to ordinary crime-fighting? Laura Keehner of the Department of Homeland Security said: "We reject the view that enough has been done on homeland security."

If a choice must be made, the present needs of police agencies should be addressed first. The issue merits more discussion between the federal government, the mayors and police officials.