WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's big city police chiefs are backing an anti-terrorism community watch program to educate people about what behavior is truly suspicious and ought to be reported to police.
Police Chief William Bratton of Los Angeles, whose department developed the iWATCH program, calls it the 21st century version of Neighborhood Watch.
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-9/11 recommendation: "If you see something, say something." Program materials list nine types of suspicious behavior that should prompt 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.
MyWaynewsI think this is a waste of money. If people aren't aware of what things they should be aware of by now, then they never will be.
_If you smell chemicals or other fumes.
I live near two grain processing plants. Strange smells are the norm._If you see someone wearing clothes that are too big and too heavy for the season.
While not many, we do have a few homeless people. Besides, this sounds like racial profiling_If you see strangers asking about building security.
why should anyone be asking about security? duh!_If you see someone purchasing supplies or equipment that could be used to make bombs.
Propane?