Safety Council Meeting - September 2025

Description

MEETING TOPIC: Ohio Homeland Security: Suspicious Activity Reporting

Ohio Homeland Security works to safeguard the state through prevention, preparedness, and coordination with partners at all levels. A key initiative is the "See Something, Say Something" campaign, which encourages the public to report suspicious activity. Timely and accurate suspicious activity reporting plays a vital role in preventing threats and enhancing community safety.

About the Speaker:

Ben Weisbrod is the Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist for Northeast Ohio with Ohio Homeland Security, where he leads efforts to protect and enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure across the region. In his role, Ben coordinates vulnerability assessments, conducts security surveys, and provides expert consultation to government and private sector partners. He is also actively involved in outreach and training initiatives aimed at strengthening security measures for vulnerable sectors. 

Ben’s career spans a wide range of public safety and emergency management roles. He began his law enforcement career with the United States Capitol Police, protecting the U.S. Capitol Complex during major events such as the 58^th Presidential Inauguration, Joint Sessions of Congress, foreign dignitary visits, and instances of civil unrest.  Following his service with the US Capitol Police, he transitioned to local law enforcement and later served as Director of a non-profit that provided essential resources to those in need.

Before his current role, Ben served as the Training Coordinator for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, where he oversaw statewide training for emergency responders and helped coordinate high-profile exercises. He has also been a key contributor to the development of Ohio’s Integrated Preparedness Plan, significantly increasing training participation across the state.

Ben holds a Master of Science in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from The Ohio State University. He is a certified instructor for several FEMA and state emergency management courses and holds multiple certifications in infrastructure protection, homeland security, and crisis leadership.

Monthly Meeting Agenda 

11:30am - 12:00pm - Sign-in/Networking/Lunch Buffet
12:00pm - 1:00pm - Announcements/BWC updates/Presentation