Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch
AP – Los Angeles Police chief William Bratton talks to the media during a news conference introducing iWatch
Associated Press Writers Eileen Sullivan And P. Solomon Banda write:
"A store clerk's curiosity about why Najibullah Zazi was buying large quantities of beauty supply products indicated that something about the transaction wasn't quite right — and it's an example of the kind of citizen vigilance that can combat terror, a police commander said Saturday.
"Federal authorities allege Zazi, 24, tried to make a homemade explosive using ingredients from beauty supplies purchased at Denver-area stores. He has been jailed in New York on charges of conspiracy to detonate a weapon of mass destruction in a plot that may have targeted New York City. Zazi has denied the charges."Zazi reportedly told an inquisitive clerk he needed a large amount of cosmetic chemicals because he had "lots of girlfriends." While his purchases weren't reported to authorities because suppliers often buy large quantities, the police chiefs hope a coordinated publicity effort will make people think differently about such encounters.
"That clerk had a gut instinct that something wasn't right," she said."
As RLEOs, we have to take suspicious activity reporting seriously. Reports may involve the following suspicious behaviors:
- Foreigners, or non-locals, who seem out of place
- Suspicious (large) amounts of chemical or electronic component purchases, especially by non-locals
- Purchases of large amounts of cell phones and cell phone components, especially by non-locals
- Stolen propane, liquid petroleum, or gasoline tankers
- Suspicious surveillance activity, loitering, or repeated tresspassing, especially at critical or sensitive facilities
- Attempts to gain entry to government facilities by unauthorized persons, especially foreigners
- Persons with weapons, and no identification
- Aggressive, persistent questioning about your agency, its operations, and personnel
Terrorists will typically fund their organizations by engaging in criminal activities. Detection and disruption of these clandestine criminal enterprises is a key component of prevention. We know from case studies that terrorists will typically travel 50-300 miles from their base to conduct crime series, such as bank robberies. We also know that they typically live within 30 miles of their intended target.
As officers on patrol, whether on the streets or at an event, we constantly have to go with our instincts. We know better than most what is out of place. Sometimes these feelings can be difficult to articulate. But remember to always go with the gut. It's important to share this information with our communications personnel, because often they'll get the first contact from a concerned citizen.
