I should file this under ‘super empowered sheepdogs’ or SEI, because that is what we will need to combat super empowered individuals (SEI) and groups. I brought up the Joker from the movie Dark Knight in past posts, as the epitome of a SEI. These SEI’s are individuals that learn about their cause and how to prosecute it, all on their own. They can conduct operations that can cause a lot of death and damage, and with tools like the internet, they are intellectually empowered to create all sorts of mayhem. Law enforcement cannot be everywhere and at all times, so it is important to tap on to the one resource out there that can be everywhere and at all times. That resource is you.
Now one idea for iWatch is to make it into a mobile application. Not only could you update what to look for on each smart phone through updates, but iWatch could send alerts with new info, straight to the iWatch mobile application. The other thing they could do is put the ‘most wanted’ list on iWatch, with a last known location (LKL) function attached to that list. I would set it up where the iWatch app notifies you when you are in the area of a LKL of a most wanted individual or individuals. It would be a reminder of who to look for, based on specific areas.
The way I could see it working is that you have your iPhone or PDA in your pocket, and then as you are walking around, you get a notification. You as the user could set up your notifications and alerts to your personal preference, but either way, you get a notification in the form of a alarm or vibration. You pull out your phone, hit the alert tab on your iWatch icon, and then it gives you the details. Now you will have a picture in your head for that specific area. And now the odds of a offhand spotting of a booger eater increases. Or even an offhand spotting of a vehicle listed or of suspicious activity. There are all types of things you could do with this. Hell, you could even do like Crime Stoppers, and attach bounties and awards to this, to further increase the odds of a capture. –Matt
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Police departments back anti-terror citizens watch
By EILEEN SULLIVAN (AP) – 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON — 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-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 phone number and Internet Web page through which the public can alert authorities. Los Angeles has begun its toll-free number and planned to put its Web site up this weekend.
The Major Cities Chiefs Association, headed by Bratton and comprised of the chiefs of the 63 largest police departments in the United States and Canada, planned to endorse iWATCH at its conference in Denver on Saturday as a model for all its communities.
“It’s really just common sense types of things,” Bratton said.
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 preconceived stereotypes of what a terrorist looks like when making the decision 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 LAPD Commander Joan McNamara, who developed iWATCH, say 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 over the years.
Story here.
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From the iWatch website.
What Suspicious Behaviors and Activities Should You Report?
Here are examples of behaviors and activities to report:
• People drawing or measuring important buildings.
• Strangers asking questions about security or building security procedures.
• Briefcase, suitcase, backpack, or package left behind.
• Cars or trucks left in No Parking zones in front of important buildings.
• Intruders in secure areas where they are not supposed to be.
• A person wearing clothes that are too big and too hot for the weather.
• Chemical smells or fumes that worry you.
• People asking questions about sensitive information such as building blueprints, security plans, or VIP travel schedules without a right or need to know.
• Purchasing supplies or equipment that can be used to make bombs or weapons or purchasing uniforms without having the proper credentials.
Important Places to Watch
• Government buildings
• Religious facilities
• Amusement parks
• Sports/Entertainment venues
• High-rise buildings
• Mass-gathering locations—parades, fairs, etc.
• Schools
• Hotels
• Theaters
• Shopping malls
• Bridges
• Public transportation
ABOUT CTCIB
Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau
100 West 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CTCIB) is comprised of Major Crimes Division (ATD) and Emergency Services Division (ESD). Major Crimes Division is now comprised of Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Investigations, Intelligence Investigations, Surveillance, and Liaison Sections. Emergency Services Division (ESD) is comprised of Field and Community Support, Emergency Planning, Operations, and Hazardous Devices Sections. In short, Counter- Terrorism Bureau is responsible for planning, response and intelligence.
Deputy Chief Michael Downing is the Commander of CTCIB, who reports directly to the Chief of Police. Commander Joan T. McNamara is the Assistant Commanding Officer.
• Major Crimes Division
• Criminal Conspiracy Section
• Intelligence Investigations Section
• Liaison Section
• Surveillance Section
• Emergency Services Division
• Emergency Planning Section
• Emergency Operations Section
• Field and Community Support Section
• Hazardous Devices Sections.
• Bomb Squad Unit
• Hazardous Materials Unit
• Operations Section
Web site links
http://www.Tlo.org – Terrorism Liaison Officer Information
Network site for the LA Joint Regional Intelligence Center.
http://Jric.info – Joint Regional Intelligence Center for Southern California.
— California Governor’s Office of Homeland Security
Website here.