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State leaders want to ramp up counterterrorism efforts, but as Matt Galka tells us, it starts with an old slogan and you.

This gas station in Tallahassee doesn’t seem like where state officials would launch counterterrorism efforts. But the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, and local law enforcement say it’s just the place where preventing the next attack could start.

“We have a litany of examples where individual citizens could have made a difference but just for whatever reason didn’t mention it to law enforcement,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

State and local leaders are putting a new emphasis on “If you see something, say something.” A slogan that went mainstream after 9-11.

Stickers will start going up on gas pumps around Florida as a reminder to people to report suspicious activity.

FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen says people may be complacent, or too afraid, to help out.

“It could be they’re afraid of…there’s a culture of political correctness here, maybe they’re afraid they’re reporting something that’s really nothing, I don’t really know. But all we’re saying is, if you see something suspicious, if you’re gut tells you something is wrong, report it. That’s our job to determine if there’s something there or it really was nothing,” he said.

The initiative is part of an overall counterterrorism plan FDLE is shaping.  The Department is requesting an additional $6.2 million dollars next year to create 46 new counterterrorism positions.

Swearingen

“I certainly hope all those people will be busy with the amount of tips that come in.”

The Department said there are no specific threats that inspired the extra emphasis on the “if you see something, say something” campaign