MacDill Air Force Base reopens after shelter in place issued for security threat

TAMPA - MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa has reopened after issuing a shelter in place warning for a threat that was made to the base, according to officials.

It is not yet clear what the threat was or how serious it was, but MacDill officials released this statement on Facebook.

"We take all threats seriously and are taking appropriate measures to prioritize the safety and security of our installation. As a matter of policy, we will not release specifics on what security measures have been implemented."

MacDill officials say that the threat has been cleared and normal FPCON Charlie operations have resumed.

The backstory:

The base was already under heightened security after officials found a suspicious package Monday morning near the Dale Mabry Gate visitor center.

On Wednesday morning, traffic in and out of the main entrance to MacDill AFB appeared to be operating normally.

Around 11 a.m., a K9 was seen with military police walking the property outside the entrance. Shortly after, the entrance closed and the shelter in place was issued.

"Based on the conditions in the world right now, any threat has to be taken very seriously," Kolko said. "And with MacDill being literally the center of the action, CENTCOM is there, aircraft and the action are coming from there, you can see that any threat, any unusual circumstance is going to be taking seriously by the base commanders."

MacDill is the home of U.S. Central Command.

"And that's the organization that has oversight for the part of the world that the military conflict is ongoing right now," Kolko said. "So, the admiral, all the generals, the leadership is right there making decisions on a daily basis and, as well as multiple aircrafts from multiple squadrons from MacDill have been deployed to the theater. So, in reality, MacDill is one of the most important bases in this ongoing military action taking place in Iran and throughout the Middle East."

Under FPCON Charlie status, security measures are ramped up on the base.

"Authorities will decide to have 100% ID checks, and they do random car checks," Kolko said. "They may bring out canines to look for any explosives or weapons in any of the vehicles. They may deny entry. They limit the number of gates that are open, which makes it a little simpler for the law enforcement to protect the base. They may increase roving patrols."

The FBI released an update on the suspicious package investigation Wednesday afternoon:

"Field screening was conducted on the contents of the package and identified possible energetic materials.  Final lab analysis is not yet complete. The investigation remains active and ongoing."

A retired FBI Special Agent says a suspicious package investigation typically falls under one of two categories.

"One is something that's just left there, and whoever spots it deems that as suspicious," FBI Special Agent (Ret.) Richard Kolko said. "That may be a backpack or a box that was just dropped or lost or anything like that. And really, no intent of causing any harm or causing any alert. But law enforcement sees it in the wrong place and considers it a suspicious package. However, there is another type of suspicious package, which is one that's made to look like a device or made to look like something that could be dangerous, and that is placed somewhere. However, that is very, very rare."

What we don't know:

Officials haven’t confirmed what was inside the package or whether it posed a real threat.

"Based on the conditions in the world right now, any threat has to be taken very seriously," Kolko said. "And with MacDill being literally the center of the action, CENTCOM is there, aircraft and the action are coming from there, you can see that any threat, any unusual circumstance is going to be taken seriously by the base commanders."

FPCON Charlie is one of five military threat levels, just below the highest level, Delta.

At this level, security tightens across the base:

• More ID checks
• Fewer open gates
• More security forces on site
• People heading onto the base should expect delays and longer lines.

"Authorities will decide to have 100% ID checks, and they do random car checks," Kolko said. "They may bring out K-9s to look for any explosives or weapons in any of the vehicles. They may deny entry. They limit the number of gates that are open, which makes it a little simpler for the law enforcement to protect the base. They may increase roving patrols."

What they're saying:

MacDill leaders are urging everyone on base to stay alert. "All personnel should remain vigilant, follow the direction of security forces, and report any suspicious activity immediately," the base said.

MacDill Air Force Base plays a major role in U.S. military operations.

It’s home to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command — making any shift in security posture especially important.

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"And that's the organization that has oversight for the part of the world that the military conflict is ongoing right now," Kolko said. "So, the admiral, all the generals, the leadership is right there making decisions on a daily basis and, as well as multiple aircrafts from multiple squadrons from MacDill have been deployed to the theater. So, in reality, MacDill is one of the most important bases in this ongoing military action taking place in Iran and throughout the Middle East."

What's next:

Base officials say conditions could change as the investigation continues.

They plan to share updates as soon as new information becomes available.

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