What Would Tom Say, Today?

In 2006, a Circuit City employee in New Jersey noticed something unusual on a customer’s videotape. He spoke up.

That seemingly small decision set in motion a chain of events that would expose and ultimately thwart a chilling terrorist plot. The individuals responsible would become known as the Fort Dix Six - a group of radical extremists whose plan to attack U.S. military personnel was stopped before it could be carried out.

But while one young man’s vigilance helped prevent tragedy, another man quietly saw something more: a scalable solution to a national problem. He didn’t see a one-off case - he saw a model. A framework. A blueprint for how we could connect everyday observations to actionable intelligence.

The Fisherman with a National Vision

Tom was a fisherman in spirit, a public servant in practice, and a pioneer in policy. He didn’t seek the spotlight. He didn’t crave credit. Yet his fingerprints are all over one of the most important public safety programs in modern history - the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative.

Tom believed in a simple, yet powerful truth: behavior matters. Not race. Not religion. Not politics. Just behavior.

He was the kind of leader who taught by listening, led by relationships, and moved mountains not by force, but by building bridges - across agencies, jurisdictions, egos, and silos.

If you had the privilege of knowing him, he left you with lessons that felt more like values:

· Have a Compass. Let your mission guide your action, even when the path is difficult.

· Cast Multiple Lines. Explore many solutions - you never know which one will hit.

· Talk to Your Friends. Trust and collaboration are the bedrock of progress.

Tom didn’t just create programs - he created cultures. He advanced safety without sacrificing civil liberties, and he never forgot that the ultimate stakeholder was the American public.

The Red Lights Are Flashing Again

But today, we face a new kind of challenge. One Tom may not have seen coming, but one he’d want us to confront head-on.

The threat landscape is evolving. And the red lights aren’t just blinking - they’re glowing.

According to counterterrorism experts, we’re in the age of “salad bar ideologies” - a dangerous mix-and-match of personal grievances, political dogma, and radical narratives that give individuals endless ways to justify violence. The number of aggrieved individuals is growing - and with it, the pool of those willing to take action.

Global instability only adds fuel to the fire. Events like Israel’s recent strikes in Iran have continued to reignite anti-Western sentiments and breathed life into long-dormant fears about sleeper cells embedded in the U.S.

But what’s more alarming is what’s happening right here at home. In just the last 12 months:

· Two assassination attempts on a former President

· An attempt on the life of the Governor of Pennsylvania

· The murder and attempted murder of Minnesota lawmakers

And this all unfolds as patriotic celebrations like the Army’s 250th birthday share the same national stage with protests accusing our government of authoritarian overreach.

Caught in the crossfire? Our public safety professionals.

Law enforcement who must protect the rights and safety of all people - regardless of political belief - while navigating an environment more divided, hostile, and uncertain than ever before.

What would Tom say?

Rely on the Compass, Not the Chaos

Tom was a staunch supporter of the “See Something, Say Something” campaign - a mantra born from the ashes of 9/11, when unity and vigilance defined our response. But those days feel distant now.

We’ve often heard it said that “the further we get from September 11, the closer we get to September 10.” That speaks to apathy.

But today, apathy isn’t the only concern - it’s division, distrust, and internal animosity.

We’ve entered a time where suspicious behaviors are no longer simply assessed - they’re interpreted through the filter of political ideology. That filter may blind us. It may muffle the alarm.

Warnings are now debated instead of shared. Signs are rationalized instead of investigated. And the price of inaction seems to be rising.

While Tom would not be comfortable with where we are, he would not be discouraged, either.

He would adapt. He would innovate. And he would ask: What tools do we need now to regain clarity?

Is AI the Next Tool in the Tackle Box?

Tom’s moral compass was steadfast. But his strategies were flexible. He constantly evolved - embracing data, technology, and systems that brought people together around behavior-based solutions.

So, what would he do now?

My feeling is he’d look hard at artificial intelligence - not as a surveillance state shortcut, but to cut through the noise of bias and ideology.

He would leverage it to spot truly suspicious behavior based on patterns, not politics.

His goal was always to help public safety professionals focus on the right signals, while at the same time protecting civil liberties by standardizing thresholds for concern

Tom believed public safety innovation begins with clarity - and ends with lives saved.

Honoring the Man by Continuing the Mission

Tom O’Reilly passed in February 2020. His legacy continues to be one of service, humility, and quiet brilliance.

But most of all, it’s a challenge - to all of us - to keep casting lines, trusting our compass, and advancing the message, even when the waters get rough.

We need that clarity now more than ever.

So, ask yourself:

Are you still casting lines?

Are you still trusting your compass?

Are you still advancing the message?

Or are you letting the current push you off course?

Tom may be gone - but his vision is more vital than ever.

Let’s honor him not with words, but with the courage to act, adapt, and collaborate. Because when the lights are glowing red, the last thing we can afford is silence.

What’s your take?

Can AI help us see clearly again? Can it support a legacy built on trust, vigilance, and behavior?