Hamilton County Sheriff Issues Alert
UPDATED: 10:10 AM EDT October 1, 2004
CINCINNATI -- Puzzled. That's the reaction of federal officials to the decision of Hamilton County's sheriff to issue a terrorism warning.
On Thursday, Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis issued an alert urging vigilance against possible terrorism. His e-mail went to thousands of schools, businesses and shopping malls, warning them to be on guard.
Leis said that he sent the alert because of new information about a possible terror attack in the Midwest before the Nov. 2 election.
But the FBI and homeland security officials said that there is no intelligence about a new threat. They said concern about a possible terrorist strike before the election is based on the same intelligence that has been available for months.
They said terror alerts should be handled by them, not the sheriff or other local law enforcement.
Leis said he took it upon himself to send the letter because he was concerned about information he and Cincinnati's police chief had received from federal authorities.
Even if there is no new intelligence about a possible attack, the people under this Sheriff's jurisdiction have been forewarned to take precautions for their own personal safety. He has followed the law enforcement axiom to the letter "to protect and serve."