The Cortez (CO) Journal proudly reports  in its July 13 issue that the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office and the Search and Rescue team has managed to receive over $85,000 in grants from the Homeland Security Office for Domestic Preparedness.  Of course, what's $85,000 in the big scheme of things, right?  After all, Cortez, Colorado could be a prime terrorist target despite having a population of about 8000, since an important facility could be located in the middle of town, for all we know.

Some may remember the funding logjam created  by the state and local planners themselves, because of their lack of threat—based assessments and lack of operational prioritization for their preparedness budgets.  That didn't seem to stop Sheriff Joey Chavez, who proceeded to obtain the funds for much needed equipment.  Keep in mind the equipment wasn't for specific counter—terror purposes, but was for general use.  The good Sheriff couldn't specify the rationale for the purchases, due to the ever popular reason of 'security.'  Sheriff Chavez further stated that

It doesn't matter if it's a terrorist attack or not, we're the first responders whatever it (a disaster) is.  We're being proactive here.  It's just in case something happens, so we'll be prepared.

The county purchased laptop computers with mapping capabilities and night—vision gear.  The statistics of this town indicate anything but a potential for being a hotbed of criminal activity, much less presenting a lucrative target for terrorists.  In Cortez in the year 2002, there were: