Brothers in Blue unite on Hurlburt

Staff Sgt. Benjamin McCorkel, right, a desk sergeant with the 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, briefs Fort Walton Beach police officers on base defense operations control center procedures during a tour at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 1, 2016. The FWB officers visited the BDOC center to learn how base security systems operate and keep Hurlburt secure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

Brothers in Blue unite on Hurlburt

Staff Sgt. Marco Nelson, team leader of the Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element, gives a demonstration about their gear during a tour at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 1, 2016. This unit provides security for Air Force Special Operations Command and Special Operations Forces airfields where security is unknown or inadequate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

Brothers in Blue unite on Hurlburt

Capt. Tracy Heart, a detective with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, watches a Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element demonstration during a tour at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 1, 2016. This unit provides security for Air Force Special Operations Command and Special Operations Forces airfields where security is unknown or inadequate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

Brothers in Blue unite on Hurlburt

Staff Sgt. Casey Paine, NCO in charge of Combat Arms Training and Maintenance, gives a weapons demonstration during a tour at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 1, 2016. This unit ensures Air Commandos are trained, qualified and certified on weapon systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

Brothers in Blue unite on Hurlburt

Capt. Tracy Heart, a detective with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, left, and Chief Edward Ryan, chief of police with the FWB Police Department, watch a military working dog demonstration during a tour at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Nov. 1, 2016. The FWB officers visited the MWD section to see how the dogs are trained to take down offenders and detect explosives and narcotics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrea Posey)

Brothers in blue unite on Hurlburt

Published Nov. 3, 2016
By Senior Airman Andrea Posey
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron gave a tour of their facilities to their civilian counterparts, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, during a visit, here, Nov. 1.

The 1st SOSFS hosts these visits to encourage an open working relationship between the two law enforcement offices anytime the police department elects new leadership.

“Our goal during these visits is twofold: first, it allows us to educate our civilian partners in the capabilities and daily experiences of our military law enforcement personnel,” said Master Sgt. Michael Gomez, NCO in charge of investigations with the 1st SOSFS. “Second, and most important, it allows us to build a positive relationship between our senior leadership and civilian counterparts to better facilitate information sharing, joint training opportunities and improve interagency cooperation overall.”

The tour began at the security forces headquarters where the group was briefed on the squadron’s different units and their functions. In addition, they toured the headquarters building and visited the Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element and the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance sections to see equipment and weapons demonstrations.

“Ultimately, the objective is to find better ways to integrate training and, in the result of a serious real world emergency, help us work together,” Gomez said. “Essentially, we are all part of the same community so combining the [departments] and having a good relationship allows us to bring that community together.”

For the FWB Police Department, their relationship with security forces gives them an opportunity to better understand how the military operates and take advantage of both forces’ resources.

“We’re a small department so our resources are limited; we rely heavily on others support to accomplish our mission. We also have resources we think the military could gain and use,” said Chief Edward Ryan, chief of police with the FWB Police Department. “I hope we can continue to merge this partnership because the military is in our community and we need to learn how to take care of [them].”