The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution lays out some basic guiding principles for the individual states to follow; that is, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare and securing the “blessings of liberty” to ourselves, our children and our children’s children.

The Preamble is just one short paragraph that introduces the Constitution, but it is rich in meaning and intent and reaffirms every U.S. citizen’s right to freedom and the pursuit of the American dream. The intent of the founding fathers was that the federal government should concentrate on these principles and allow the new nation to govern itself according to the will of the people.

The role of government, reduced to its common denominator, is to protect and defend its citizens. No nation can prosper unless its people are secure, safe and free. This is not to say there aren’t other important roles of government, such as helping sustain the economy and educating a workforce; but nothing is more important than the safety of the people.

In my experience as a Secret Service agent, Emergency Management Director, 911 board member, Cleveland City Councilman, District III Homeland Security Council member and Bradley County Sheriff, I have seen the impact national security and public safety have on a community and nation. Jobs, new industry, real estate, education, economic growth, leisure activities and tourism must all have a safe environment if they are to flourish and prosper. That is why the BCSO has worked so hard to develop effective partnerships between governments, businesses, public safety officials and citizens to protect our community and meet threats of crime and violence head-on. Among other things, we have worked to fight the flow of drugs into our area, to encourage anti-drug education in schools, to control illegal immigration into the county and to be prepared for potential disasters.

When crime and violence are allowed to get foot holds in an area, law-abiding people will begin to leave, families will look to other places to relocate, businesses will shut down and industry will not come into that area. There is a direct connection between safety, security and jobs.

With Volkswagen in Hamilton County, Wacker Chemical in Bradley County, the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge and continued growth elsewhere, our entire area has made great economic strides. But that doesn’t mean it can’t all disappear if we don’t have safe streets and neighborhoods. The terrorist threats from around the world and continued gang and drug violence in southeast Tennessee should concern all of us when our state already ranks in the top five states for violent crime per capita.

We should never underestimate the importance of national security, homeland security and community security. By doing so, we will further set the stage for improving our whole area by protecting people and sustaining and increasing economic opportunities for all.