Homeland Security chief Powers resigns
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James Powers
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HARRISBURG -- Critics of state Homeland Security Director James F. Powers Jr. got what they wanted Friday, when he announced he is leaving state government after four years.
The American Civil Liberties Union, state Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, Pittsburgh Councilman Doug Shields and groups that opposed Marcellus Shale drilling had lambasted Mr. Powers over the past two weeks because of a so-called anti-terrorism contract he agreed to.
Mr. Ferlo urged Gov. Ed Rendell to fire Mr. Powers after word got out two weeks ago about a $103,000 contract he'd signed with a 6-year-old Israeli/American company called the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response.
The contract led the institute to track and monitor meetings, rallies and protests held by various groups around the state, including a Pittsburgh City Council meeting on Marcellus Shale, protests against taxes, gay/lesbian parades, school-funding rallies and protests by environmental activists against natural gas drilling.
The institute would find out where the protests were taking place and who was leading them and relay the information to state Homeland Security officials and law enforcement officials in affected towns, with some information also going to gas industry officials.
The ACLU and other critics claimed the institute was "spying" on legal meetings and gatherings, and urged that Mr. Powers be fired for violating people's constitutional right of free speech and assembly.
Mr. Rendell was sharply critical of the contract, which he canceled, calling it a severe lapse in judgment and a waste of money. But Mr. Rendell refused to fire Mr. Powers and said blame for the ill-conceived contract shouldn't be placed on just one person.
In announcing Mr. Powers' resignation Friday, Mr. Rendell said the director made the decision to resign on his own. He praised Mr. Powers for serving the U.S. during a 30-year career with the Army, some of it spent with Special Forces.
Mr. Powers said he was resigning "with deep regret." A few days ago he had apologized for any unintended consequences of the contract with the anti-terrorism institute, and said he hadn't meant to infringe on anyone's rights. He said he was trying to protect public safety by keeping a watch out for potential terrorist attacks.
First Published October 2, 2010 12:00 am
