Veterans who frequent VFW post 8696 in Palm Coast are praising Sheriff-elect Rick Staly’s decision to start a new homeland security department when he takes office in January.

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  • Staly: County has not done enough since vets on so-called ISIS list

“I think Staly, the sheriff, has the right idea,” said Don Fick in between drinks with friends.

In 2015, several Palm Coast veterans were on a so-called ISIS kill list.

“I did not feel the agency was doing a good job in trying to prevent these kinds of incidents,” said Flagler County Sheriff-elect Rick Staly.

The threat was later found not to be credible, but Staly said the list put Palm Coast on the terrorist map.

“ISIS knew about Palm Coast. David Letterman didn’t even know where Palm Coast was,” said Staly.

A U.S. House Homeland Security Committee report found 101 ISIS-linked plots around the world from January 2014 to July 2016. About 40 percent of the plots were aimed at United States citizens or the country's official presence overseas.

Staly says a homeland security office would help identify whether a threat is credible, or zero in on any future threats.

“Not only worry about my deputies that are out there, but do I have a nut that’s trying to make a name for themselves?” said Staly.

Staly says the entire community can feel safer with homeland security keeping an eye on the radar.

“We’re Florida, we’re on the coast, they can come in here very easily,” said Fick.

Sheriff-Elect Staly will take the oath of office in early January.