Under the guise of terrorism: Police will be spying on you in shopping malls, buses & trains
New York - On December 11, 2013 Counter Terrorism Zone 4 (CTZ-4) will deploy its Counter Terrorism Action Teams (CTAT) to shopping areas and train stations within Orange, Rockland and Sullivan Counties.
CTZ-4 will utilize its Counter Terrorism Action Teams to deter terrorism activity within CTZ-4. These proactive teams will conduct random checks of high profile areas and educate the public so they can be more vigilant in recognizing and reporting suspicious activity.
The deployment will focus on increasing the security of the shopping public during the holiday season by increasing their awareness of potential terrorist activity.
This will be accomplished by area law enforcement officers, assigned to a CTAT, engaging the public at area malls and train stations, discussing terrorist related indicators with shoppers and distributing “See Something Say Something” flyers. Specialized law enforcement officers will also be conducting commercial vehicle checks by targeting vehicles that make deliveries to the mall.
CTZ-4 took its normal after-the-fact security action by detailing interagency teams to commuter train stations to look for any terrorist activity and to reassure the public. Frustrated, the group brainstormed to come up with ways to be proactive. The result was the creation of the Counter Terrorism Action Teams (CTATs).
At every chance, law enforcement engaged the commuting public in discussion, identifying what suspicious activity to look for and how to report it. The CTATs have also been deployed to shopping malls and schools and have conducted commercial vehicle checks throughout the region.
The effort will involve 60 law enforcement personnel from 20 agencies.
https://www.nyspnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=34628
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=2012&issue_id=22010
http://post.thing.net/node/1896
Texas - METRO's counter-terror intitiave draws criticism:
One week after METRO rolled out what it called an unprecedented approach to safety, there is criticism of just what happened. It was a big operation with what critics have called questionable results.
You paid for 81 cops to saturate Houston bus stops and routes last Friday. Most were from METRO, but some were from the federal Transportation Security Administration, as well as HPD.
The counter-terror exercise resulted in 14 arrests, but no terrorists. They found seven alleged prostitutes, two drug users, one dealer, two bad drivers and two more wanted suspects. But they also found a lot of criticism.
Of the 14 arrests METRO made, 12 were of African American suspects; and while METRO denies profiling, it is a large percentage.
METRO called it a synchronized, counter-terrorism exercise, and the first ever in Houston welcoming the federal TSA to Houston bus stops.
"TSA is an anti-terrorism organization," said Doyle Rains with the TSA.
But a week later, METRO admits there was no specific terror threat in Houston. Friday's sting didn't find any, and critics are angry.
"This isn't about terrorism -- they're not busting terrorists, they're not finding bombs. And that's not even what they're trying to do," said Mark Bennett, a Houston criminal defense attorney.http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/in_focus&id=8629966
DHS/TSA funding counter-terrorism units:
CA - A new counterterrorism unit will conduct random enforcement efforts on buses and trains and in depots to thwart any possible attacks, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said the new force, funded by a $122,000 federal grant, is not a response to any past or impending terror attacks on the transit agency. Rather, the new team will help round out anti-terrorism efforts.
DHS's report on their plans for buses, trains, malls and even concerts. They plan to search citizens outside of airports.
TSA officials respond that the random searches are “special needs” or “administrative searches” that are exempt from probable cause because they further the government’s need to prevent terrorist attacks.
TSA officials say the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) and the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 confer a “broad responsibility to enhance security in all modes of transportation nationwide.” They say TSA agents also adhere to the “administrative search doctrine.”
“The purpose of screening in surface transportation modes is the detection of items that pose a significant threat to the traveling public, like explosives,” said Michael Pascarella, TSA spokesman, in an email. “To the greatest extent possible the duration and level of intrusiveness is kept to a minimum.”
An August 2012 report by DHS Inspector General found that VIPR training programs “may not be sufficient” to help federal air marshals operate successfully in mass transit environments.
“We’re focusing on increasing the public’s vigilance,” she said during a news conference at the Santa Fe Depot in Orange, which serves Metrolink and OCTA buses. “There are responses that turn out to be nothing, but we’d rather do that than let attacks happen.”
http://www.ocregister.com/news/terrorism-314955-new-sheriff.html
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16244-tsa-in-the-airport-and-beyond
The National Tactical Officers Association: http://ntoa.org/site/