If you see something, say something Published March 11, 2015 By Maj. Jason E. Stack BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.-- -- If you see something, say something. This has become a catch phrase for law enforcement professionals around the country in recent years and has become major campaign lead by the United States Department of Homeland Security. This phrase asks average citizens to break away from the ease of ignoring a problem, so you don't have to get involved to reporting things that seem out of the ordinary. Many people will go through their lives having witnessed suspicious activity and crimes, but do not call the police because they are afraid of getting caught up in something. It is understandable for a person to feel that way, but unfortunately there are not enough law enforcement personnel to see every situation. We need everyone's help to identify suspicious activity so that law enforcement officers can respond to activities that threaten our communities. In the military, and in particular on and around military installations, vigilance is even more important because of what we do. It doesn't matter if you wear a uniform, are a dependent, civil servant, contractor or a retiree, you should feel compelled to alert the authorities of all criminal behavior and suspicious activity. The 460th Security Forces Squadron fields phone calls every day identifying suspicious activity and criminal behavior and every single complaint is properly investigated. You will never be made to feel that your complaint is not important, or unwarranted. We exist to protect and defend this installation, its resources, and personnel against all threats, and we need your assistance to make sure our attention is focused in the right direction. If your concern stems from an incident off the installation, don't worry! We have connections with the local, state, and federal law enforcement entities to make sure that your concern is voiced and properly investigated. There are only two steps to reporting suspicious activities and crimes and they are simple. Step one, contact your local law enforcement agency or if it is an emergency, dial 9-1-1. Step two, tell them the following: who or what you saw, when you saw it, where it occurred, and why it's suspicious. These simple steps will give law enforcement officers the information they need to properly respond to and address the concerns of the citizens we protect. As simple as this might be, many people just don't do it. When serious crimes occur it is not uncommon to have known associates of the offenders state "I thought something might be wrong;" but in the end, many people don't say anything until it is too late. The guilt and remorse those people live with can be unbearable depending on how serious the incident was. Please don't let yourself ever have to go through that experience. Law enforcement exists to protect the community and it is our desire is to stop crimes before they happen. If you see something suspicious, or are the witness or victim to a crime on or around Buckley Air Force Base, please call the 460th SFS Base Defense Operations Center at 720-847-9250 to report it immediately. The sooner we know about a problem the more quickly my patrolmen can respond and deal with the situation. So if you see something, say something!