Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: hawk220 on October 16, 2002, 09:21:35 AM
-
Pentagon to Help Find Sniper
Oct 16, 9:10 AM (ET)
By PAULINE JELINEK
WASHINGTON (AP) - Army planes with high-tech surveillance equipment were preparing Wednesday to take to the skies around the nation's capital to help track a sniper who has eluded law enforcement officials for two weeks.
The planes were being flown to the region and were expected to join the hunt within days, a defense official said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Authorities called in the military Tuesday to help solve the baffling case that has left nine people dead and terrorized the capital area, leaving people afraid to go out of their homes. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday evening agreed to an FBI request for the help, approving use of the Army's Airborne Reconnaissance Low plane, which has surveillance capabilities beyond those of local police forces, defense officials said.
The plan calls for military pilots to fly reconnaissance flights accompanied by federal agents, who would relay any collected information to authorities on the ground, a senior defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A main objective is to improve communications among investigators.
The military planes join a chase that already is using officers from more than a dozen law enforcement agencies, along with dragnets, roadblocks, bloodhounds, helicopters and other tactics. Among important features of the four-engine plane are that it provides high-resolution imagery and night vision and looks like a small commercial plane, making it easier to blend in with local air traffic and avoid detection.
The Pentagon help will be given in a way meant to comply with the Posse Comitatus Act - a 19th century law that restricts the military's involvement in domestic law enforcement, said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr Jeff Davis. That means the military will not be involved in action on the ground, will relay data to law enforcement and not decide on its own what targets to watch, officials said.
The move is highly unusual but not unheard of.
During the last Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, military helicopters flew federal law enforcement agents around so they could do surveillance from the air.
Using several of the Army aircraft for possible 24-hour coverage, pilots would perform general reconnaissance, such as looking for or tracking the light-colored van that authorities say was seen at one or more of the shooting sites. Infrared sensors that can detect flashes of gunfire on the ground also could be used, officials said.
An unknown sniper or snipers has launched a series of 11 random rifle attacks in 13 days that has killed nine people and seriously wounded two others. All but one of the attacks have been in neighboring suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. One was just inside Washington at the Maryland border.
In two recent killings, police threw up a dragnet near the shooting site, blocking off streets and expressway ramps and stopping traffic to check vehicles. The assailant slipped away.
Another official, who also discussed the matter on condition of anonymity, said that at the request of investigators, the Army has started searching its records for people trained as snipers for any former or current service member who might be involved in the shootings.
Law enforcement officials have not said they suspect anyone from the services. Experts have said the shooter also could be a hunter, a target shooter or someone with law enforcement experience.
Police from counties where the attacker has struck are participating in the joint investigation as well as both state police forces, Washington's metropolitan police, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Meanwhile, federal investigators refused Tuesday to rule out the possibility that organized terrorist groups are behind the shootings.
"The communities are terrorized," said the homeland security director, Tom Ridge.
-
For the first time, witnesses were able to give information about license plates on vehicles they said were fleeing the scene. Some described a light-colored Chevrolet Astro van with a burned-out rear taillight.
At least one witness saw a male sniper aim and fire, then flee in a van, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. The New York Times said the gunman fired from 90 feet away and was inside the parking garage. The newspapers cited anonymous law enforcement or government sources. The Times' sources also said authorities were able to get enough of a description to allow a police artist to try a composite drawing.
[/b]
This certainly is encouraging news.
-
not a slippery slope at all , the military has given technical help to civil police for years, but the military cannot arrest people off of a military base. posse comotatus
even the coast guard can only detain people then turn them over to civil police for arrest
44MAG
-
Not too concerned about the slippery slope, but why advertise to this madman that the surveillance is there? News shows were even saying that the Military planes were capable of spotting cell phone and radio signals.
So make sure you don't use one of those Mr. Sniper! :rolleyes:
-
YOu would rather have him kill again in order to catch him? Sick.
-
Perhaps he didn't want him to alter his methods to avoid the surveillance, rip.
-
Yea Rip, I can't wait till he kills again....
I was commenting on the specific information that news was assisting him with.
-
In that case, they should not have said what type of van he drove, the evil-doer (I figured you'd like that term :D ) could have changed methods of transportation.
-
How do the police decide what info to give out and what to keep?
-
rock paper scisorrs I think.
-
Looking for a white van is something everyone can help with (and something they need help with)
Scanning for infrared signatures is not.
-
they can't find Osama either - hunting down in-duh-viduals is not the military's area of expertise - they're good at destroying vast areas - the only way the military gets the sniper is if they have SAC flatten the DC metro area w/ H-bombs.
maybe CIA could help, but the FBI are supposed to be the kings of this game
-
Originally posted by whgates3
they can't find Osama either - hunting down in-duh-viduals is not the military's area of expertise - they're good at destroying vast areas - the only way the military gets the sniper is if they have SAC flatten the DC metro area w/ H-bombs.
maybe CIA could help, but the FBI are supposed to be the kings of this game
I've seen the FBI in action before. Some of them MIGHT be able to recognize a casino in Vegas two out of 5 times from the strip.
They could up the average a bit if you give them a map and a guide. :rolleyes:
Seriously I hope they have some serious leads and work this out soon. This coward (or cowards) is getting WAY too much press time.
-
even the coast guard can only detain people then turn them over to civil police for arrest
The Coast Guard has the authority under Title 14 USC 89 to make inquires, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, in order to enforce federal laws. And all this without a warrant!
The USCG is part of the Department of Transportation not Defense so it does have the authority to arrest, detain, seize and just about ruin anyones boating day. However neither we or the federal courts have the time or manpower to spare to process these jokers unless it's something 'big'. It is much easier to call local authorities who have no problems coming down to throw joe boater in the county jail.
Btw the US military is used to help enforcement out alot. If you sail the Carribean don't be surprised if a U.S. navy frigate runs you down and sends a CG boarding party. :)
-
i thought bush transfered the coast guard to the DOD, or is that still hung up in the senate also?
-
There's some scuttlebutt about being transfered to the department homeland security but who knows when or if that will happen.
Hurry up and wait!