Talking Points: Terror Top Concern At Sheriffs' Convention

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- If you were in downtown Minneapolis this weekend or for the next few days, you will notice a heavy law enforcement presence.

Some 3,000 sheriffs and sheriff's deputies are in town for the National Sheriffs' Association Convention.

Even before the Orlando massacre, the scheduled topics for seminars at the convention included terrorist recruitment and lone wolf attacks.

FBI Director James Comey is slated to speak to the convention on Monday. It'll be his second visit to Minnesota in less than a month.

In his earlier visit, Comey said there has been a significant drop in the number of terror recruits trying to fly out of the country to join ISIS.

Speaking just five days before the Orlando massacre, Comey said that very progress left him worried that homegrown terrorists commit atrocities here at home.

That's been a concern for Minnesota law enforcement authorities for years.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek will serve as host for the sheriffs convention. He was a guest on WCCO Sunday Morning.

"Part of the purpose for this is training, so preparing response plans is absolutely part of it," Stanek said. "We are learning best practices from other agencies. Just yesterday, we had a chance to talk with the San Bernadino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan about that terrorist attack just a few months ago."]

In addition to Comey, Stanek and Sen. Amy Klobuchar will be addressing the convention.