Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch
By EILEEN SULLIVAN and P. SOLOMON BANDA,Associated Press Writers -
Sunday, October 4
Send
IM Story
Print
DENVER – 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.
Los Angeles police Cmdr. Joan McNamara cited this summer's incident as police chiefs meeting in Denver adopted a model for a nationwide community watch program that teaches people what behavior is truly suspicious and encourages them to report it to police.
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.
Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton, who developed the iWatch program with McNamara, called it the 21st century version of Neighborhood Watch.
The Major Cities Chiefs Association, headed by Bratton and composed of the chiefs of the 63 largest police departments in the U.S. and Canada, endorsed iWatch at the group's conference Saturday.
iWatch would have provided an easy way for that Colorado store clerk and others to report suspicious activity so police could launch investigations earlier, McNamara said.
"That clerk had a gut instinct that something wasn't right," she said.
Using brochures, public service announcements and meetings with community groups, iWatch is designed to deliver concrete advice on how the public can follow the oft-repeated post-Sept. 11 recommendation, "If you see something, say something."
Program materials list nine types of suspicious behavior that should compel people to call police, and 12 kinds of places to look for it. Among the indicators:
_If you smell chemicals or other fumes.
_If you see someone wearing clothes that are too big and too heavy for the season.
_If you see strangers asking about building security.
_If you see someone purchasing supplies or equipment that could be used to make bombs.
The important places to watch include government buildings, mass gatherings, schools and public transportation.
The program also is designed to ease reporting by providing a toll-free number and Web page the public can use to alert authorities. Los Angeles put up its Web site this weekend.
"It's really just commonsense types of things," Bratton said, adding that his department is providing technical assistance to other agencies that want to adopt the program.
But American Civil Liberties Union policy counsel Mike German, a former FBI agent who worked on terrorism cases, said the indicators are all relatively common behaviors. He suspects people will fall back on personal biases and stereotypes of what a terrorist looks like when deciding to report someone to the police.
"That just plays into the negative elements of society and doesn't really help the situation," German said.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, the Bush administration proposed enlisting postal carriers, gas and electric company workers, telephone repairmen and other workers with access to private homes in a program to report suspicious behavior to the FBI. Privacy advocates condemned this as too intrusive, and the plan was dropped.
Bratton and McNamara said privacy and civil liberties protections are built into this program.
"We're not asking people to spy on their neighbors," McNamara said.
If someone reports something based on race or ethnicity, the police will not accept the report, and someone will explain to the caller why that is not an indicator of suspicious behavior, McNamara said.
The iWatch program isn't the first to list possible indicators of suspicious behavior. Some cities, like Miami, have offered a public list of seven signs of possible terrorism. Federal agencies also have put out various lists.
Other efforts encourage the public and law enforcement to report such signs through dozens of state-run "fusion centers" across the country. One such center, the Colorado Information Analysis Center, has a form on its Web site to report suspicious activity.
Bratton hopes the iWatch program becomes as successful and as well known as the Smokey Bear campaign to prevent wildfires.
"There he is with his Smokey the Bear hat, similarly here, we hope that this program, even though it's in its birthing stages right now, in a few years will become that well known to the American public."
___
Associated Press Writer Eileen Sullivan reported from Washington, D.C.
___
On the Net:
Major chiefs: http://www.majorcitieschiefs.org
Los Angeles Police Department: http://www.lapdonline.org
Los Angeles iWatch Web site: http://www.iWatchLA.org
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Honduran leader, Zelaya inch toward crisis talks Reuters - Sunday, October 4
Report says Iran has data to make atom bomb - NY Times Reuters - Sunday, October 4
Venezuelans protest jailing of Chavez opponents AP - Sunday, October 4
Police: Kidnapped newborn found safe in Alabama AP - Sunday, October 4
Jailed Honduran farmers on hunger strike for Zelaya AFP - Sunday, October 4
News Search
Top Stories
Berlusconi's Fininvest hit with 750 mln euro payment
Credit crunch clouds uneven European rebound
US rolls out massive swine flu vaccination campaign
Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity
Polanski agreed to pay victim 500,000 dlrs to end suit: report
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Four-winged dino may be missing link in bird debate
Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins
Rio to host 2016 Olympics as Chicago, Obama shattered
Tongan banker rescues people, cash from tsunami
Finance chiefs warn on recovery as G7 meets
More Most Viewed »
Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO
Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists
Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 4 October 2009 Mubarak urges Israel to start final status talks
Ireland backs EU treaty by 67.13%: final results
Polanski agreed to pay victim 500,000 dlrs to end suit: report
VW seeks to cut ties with Magna: report
Rescuers search for Siciliy mudslide survivors
UN atomic chief in Iran for talks on new facility
Sudan's Bashir runs for president despite warrant
Mubarak urges Israel to start final status talks
| International
|
Nigerian rebel leaders give up arms in amnesty deal
| International
|
Russia dam disaster blamed on Chubais, five others
| International
|
Afghan policeman fires on US troops, killing 2
Latest typhoon kills 4 in Philippines
Army bomb expert arrested over Sri Lanka blast
After 5 years, space tourism a work in progress
Village deaths to lift Indonesian quake death toll
Pakistani Taliban chief may be dead: US official
Administration eyes ways to help laid-off workers
Focus in Samoa moves from rescue to survivor aid
NM bookmobiles: Books for those without libraries
Pakistan: Anti-Taliban tribal elder fatally shot
Water canal sparks skepticism, lawsuits in Calif.
Typhoon Parma tears into Philippines
A town's love of Indian artifacts backfires
Hunts for Indian relics date to 19th century
Myanmar-American to get Suu Kyi lawyers
U of Ill. trustees OK president's resignation
Homes evacuated as fire threatens Williams, Ariz.
Police departments back anti-terror citizens watch
About 600 missing in Indonesia landslides: official
Quake landslides wipe out 3 villages in Indonesia
NATO still seeks strategy to counter Taliban
Ireland backs key EU reform treaty in second poll
Hopes fade for Indonesia quake survivors
| International
|
Sarkozy to be 'twittered' at climate summit
Credit crunch clouds uneven European rebound
Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity
US rolls out massive swine flu vaccination campaign
An SMS from Indonesia quake rubble a sign of hope
Russia blames top officials over hydro disaster
On Afghanistan, US military puts Obama on the spot
Kim woos China's Wen on rare visit
| International
|
Report says Iran has data to make atom bomb
Report says Iran has data to make atom bomb
| International
|
Iran's leader chides Obama over nuclear accusation
Typhoon kills 17 in Philippines
| International
|
Socialists set for comeback as Greece votes
| International
|
Israel's Netanyahu to undergo hospital tests
| International
|
Former Japan finance minister found dead
| International
|
Honduran leader, Zelaya inch toward crisis talks
| International
|
US NGOs concerned by Obama's Darfur envoy, policy
Moderate earthquake hits off coast of Taiwan
Hopes fade for Indonesia quake survivors
Myanmar minister promises 'free and fair' elections
Congress poised to act swiftly on Iran if needed
Mormon church to build 5 new temples worldwide
Elliott, Vettori guide New Zealand into final
Texas golfer dies trying to retrieve stray ball
Typhoon Melor begins move from Northern Marianas
NY man accused of tweeting cop actions at protests
Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch
7 wedding guests fall ill at NH reception
China factories short of workers in Christmas run-up
Nervous US retailers brace for critical holiday season
Japan must boost domestic demand: minister
Insurance man accused of stalking ESPN's Andrews
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Polanski agreed to pay victim $500,000: report
5.5-magnitude quake rocks eastern Indonesia: USGS
On UN mission, Bill Clinton promotes tourism in Haiti
100,000 protest for press freedom in Rome
Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity
Cuba lambasts US embargo after orchestra tour shelved
Hopes fade for Indonesian quake victims
Tour de force in tulle from Viktor & Rolf
Hurry or be sacked, Moscow boss tells Bolshoi contractor
Indonesia's 'unlucky' president takes quake blame
Polanski agreed to pay victim $500,000: report
| Entertainment
|
IAEA to inspect Iran nuclear site on October 25
T-Rex fails to impress Las Vegas bidders
Palestinians angry as Abbas drops war crimes case
IAEA to inspect Iran's Qom site October 25
| International
|
Berlusconi's Fininvest hit with 750 mln euro payment
Eight US troops killed in Afghanistan
Gaza woman freed in last step of soldier-video swap
| International
|
Israel's Netanyahu to undergo hospital tests
Vote offers Balkans EU hope despite new problems
| International
|
Zawahri says Libya killed man who linked Iraq, Qaeda
| International
|
Cybersecurity starts at home and in the office
Pakistan: Troops kill 9 militants in Swat
Samoans prepare to bury tsunami victims
Jackson, Farrakhan at beaten Ill. teen's funeral
S.Korea rejects demands to return defectors
New term and new justice for nation's higher court
North Korea demands SKorea return 11 defectors
Chinese premier meets Kim Jong Il on NKorea visit
Missouri man gets life for killing stepdaughter
Death toll from floods rises to 205 in south India
Greek man with gun arrested at Pakistan airport
Arizona wildfire slows but still threatens homes
Death toll in Indian floods passes 200: officials
Deadliest days for US troops in Afghanistan
IMF hails Japan's plan to boost social spending
Rio gets a chance to show off sporting passion
South Asia frets over high food prices
China mulls banker pay, but bonuses not the issue
Tales of everyday racism set France on edge
In Poland, honey
Indonesian villagers use bare hands to dig corpses
Malaysian singer arrested in Hong Kong for assault
Author Coetzee eyes Booker triple, Mantel favorite
| Entertainment
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights