The generation of young people who are now in high school, college and even a few years into the workforce really can’t understand what America was like before the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C.
Sometimes it is hard for those of us who were there to recall but, yes, there was a time in this country where getting on an airplane did not require the equivalent of a full body search. And, locally, the security situation at Tyndall Air Force Base was different.
We would not go so far as to call it lax but it was significantly easier for civilians to get onto the base than it is now. While 9/11 (rightfully) changed the process Tyndall officials still managed to make most of us feel welcome when they invited us to air shows or other events, and those traveling the waterways near it would not be aware there was even a base that size nearby unless they already knew.
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That very openness is probably why many residents were concerned when a plan that initially appeared to propose prohibiting public access to four bayous within the base — including Fred Bayou, Little Cedar Bayou, Military Point, Baker Bayou, Shell and Crooked Islands — was discovered in 2013. After a large and vehement outcry Tyndall pulled the proposal and announced they would go through a more open process as they worked to increase their security apparatus without harming the public’s use of nearby lands and waterways.
For decades Tyndall took a live and let live attitude towards the fishermen, recreational boaters and beach goers who used areas near the base.
When the proposal was rewritten Tyndall officials worked hard to explain that they would only use their new security powers in the most extreme circumstances and many of us hoped that things would stay relatively the same.
That’s why some of the allegations made by The Friends of Shell Island about military police from Tyndall taking action against civilians raise concerns. However, some of the incidents are nothing more than Tyndall personnel on boats getting close to civilian boaters. That may not be the friendliest behavior in the world but it’s also not outside the realm of possibility that one or both sides of the situation are overreacting.
Another incident involved the use of a boat ramp on Tyndall property at night and is the kind of thing that happens everywhere law enforcement of any kind is involved with the public. It can probably be written off as temporary confusion on both sides.
The fourth and most controversial allegation involved base security waving a civilian boater to shore, handcuffing him, holding him for two or three hours and searching his phone, wallet and boat without consent or a warrant. Unfortunately, the boater has not come forward and the allegation was made anonymously.
Tyndall public affairs officer Herman Bell confirmed that an incident with a civilian boater did occur and “there was a mistake made,” but he did not provide details or confirm it happened as alleged.
“There was an incident,” Bell said. “I’m not going to release any details of it.”
It’s unfortunate that Tyndall officials will not release more information about the incident, since an absence of detail leaves people speculating the worst.
However, it seems a stretch to suggest that one incident and other minor issues will be the entirety of Tyndall’s security policy on boaters going forward.
That’s why it remains important for Tyndall to continue to spell out exactly what they hope to achieve with new security parameters and how they expect those changes will affect boaters, fishermen and others in both routine and extreme cases. It is also just as important for the people who work and enjoy the areas around the base to continue to hold Tyndall to high standards on this issue and confirm that the clarity in their rhetoric to the public results in clarity for their personnel. They also need to bear in mind this is a military base, not a state park.
Tyndall is a vital part of this community and the civilians who live here remain grateful and protective of the base and its mission. That’s why base officials should do everything within its power to hear the public’s concerns and assuage their fears.