Posted on 11/16/2003 9:19:40 AM PST by joesnuffy
Nov. 14, 2003, 11:36PM
Theft of police badges sparks terrorism alert
Fort Worth Star Telegram
The recent disappearance of police uniforms, badges and gear has law enforcement authorities worried that terrorists might use such items to gain access to high-security areas.
"Hundreds of official identification cards, badges, decals, uniforms and government license plates have been reported stolen or lost," said a police bulletin issued this week by the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin and the federal Homeland Security Department.
The alert, which did not specify the locations of the thefts, added that "a number of private companies have reported receiving suspicious inquiries about renting official delivery vehicles.
"And emergency services representatives have received unusual requests for detailed vehicle descriptions," the bulletin said, suggesting that a terrorist plot might include the use of copycat ambulances and firetrucks.
The memo, obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, said officials are concerned about the "worldwide proliferation of individuals or companies that traffic in high-quality imitations of official identification, uniforms or vehicles ... (that) could be used to facilitate future terrorist attacks."
Lt. Jesse Hernandez, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Police Department, said officers recently became aware of authentic police badges being sold on eBay. He said no badge thefts have been reported in Fort Worth but that officers lose them from time to time.
Steps have been taken since the 9-11 terrorist attacks to keep a tighter rein over badges and other gear, Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said.
Another alert, issued by the FBI on Nov. 7 and labeled "law enforcement sensitive," said that "al-Qaida may be planning to attack U.S. nuclear facilities using commercial cargo planes loaded with explosives during Ramadan." Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, ends Nov. 24.
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