On Monday, the Louisiana State Police and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP) activated the state’s “Fusion Center” at State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge to respond to the possible threat posed by a stolen Cessna airplane flying south from Canada, which later landed in Missouri.

State Police and GOSHEP were notified of the possible threat by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after 5PM Monday and immediately activated the state’s Fusion Center, which is a joint unit of first responders including State Police, local law enforcement, GOSHEP, Louisiana National Guard, and a representative from DHS.

F-15 aircrafts from the Louisiana Air National Guard were called upon to shadow the aircraft as it was traveling South from Wisconsin.

Governor Bobby Jindal said, “State Police, GOSHEP, and the LA National Guard immediately sprang into action this evening. Their quick, coordinated efforts are exactly what we need each and every time there is a possible threat posed to our state, whether natural or manmade.We are glad there was a safe ending to this situation tonight.”

State Police Superintendent, Col. Mike Edmonson said, “We immediately notified the Governor and his senior staff when we were informed of this incident and we activated the state’s Fusion Center in order to get all state response officials and law enforcement officials alerted to the possible threat posed to Louisiana. Initial reports indicated that Louisiana could be affected by the plane’s path, although its final destination was unknown.

“It was absolutely critical that all the proper officials were notified about this incident immediately tonight.  GOSHEP Director Mark Cooper and I came to the Fusion Center to monitor the events and remained in constant contact with the Louisiana National Guard and local law enforcement. This was absolutely a joint effort and I am pleased that we all worked together and quickly responded to this threat.”

GOSHEP Director Mark Cooper said, “We activated our Crisis Action Team to monitor the situation, in the event that we would have to coordinate resources somewhere in the state, and we were prepared to establish contact with any office of emergency preparedness and first responder unit, should an area in Louisiana be affected as the incident unfolded.

“We are closely aligned with the Fusion Center on a constant basis and we have two full time GOSHEP intelligence officers assigned to the Fusion Center to coordinate with response officials and immediately notify the Governor of any emergency situation."

The State’s “Fusion Center” that monitored the incident involving the rouge aircraft this evening was officially opened recently - the week before Hurricane Gustav stuck Louisiana in late August, 2008. The State’s Fusion Center at State Police Headquarters is called LA-SAFE, the Louisiana – State Analytical and Fusion Exchange.