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Maryland Water Watch Outreach Program. “See Something, Say Something”. Maryland Natural Resource Police. This Program is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Maryland Water Watch Outreach Program.
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Maryland Water Watch Outreach Program “See Something, Say Something” Maryland Natural Resource Police This Program is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Maryland Water Watch Outreach Program • The US Department of Homeland Security has developed a grant program to help states train civilians to assist in maritime security. • In Maryland this program is a partnership between the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the numerous port partners all working together to increase Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
What is Maritime Domain Awareness Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime environment that could impact the security, safety, economy or environment of the United States. Maritime Domainis all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels and other conveyances.
Why is Maritime Domain Awareness Important • MDA is a key component of an active, layered maritime defense in depth. It will be achieved by improving our ability to collect, fuse, analyze, display, and disseminate actionable information and intelligence to law enforcement authorities. • The “See Something, Say Something” campaign encourages the public and private sector to become aware and REPORT suspicious activity.
Partnerships • Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is about generating actionable intelligence, which comes from Partnerships that have been developed, enhanced and informed. • Maritime security partnerships include: Federal Agencies State Agencies Local Government Private Sector Recreational Boating Public The General Public Commercial & Recreational Fishing Community Others
What Can You Do? • It is everyone’s responsibility to keep the community safe. The more aware people are, using their eyes and ears, the safer we will all be.
What Can You Do? • As a coastal state, Maryland has direct access to international waters. There are over 7,000 miles of coastline.
Waterfront Critical Infrastructures • The Potomac River is navigable within blocks of the Capitol Building and other high profile (Iconic) locations in Washington, DC.
Waterfront Critical Infrastructures include the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and the LNG Off Shore Marine Terminal
Why you can make a difference The “Fort Dix Six” May of 2007 • On 31 January 2006, a member of the "Fort Dix Six" group brought a video to a Circuit City in Mount Laurel, NJ in order for the store to convert the video to a DVD. • A Circuit City employee alerted the police after he saw the content of the video, which included footage of the six men shooting weapons, shouting "Allah-hu Akbar" (God is Great), and calling for holy war. • The video also contained footage of friends and relatives vacationing in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, and footage of the six men skiing, hiking, and joking around. • Authorities claim that the men chose to attack Fort Dix partly because Tatar delivered pizzas to the base from his family's nearby pizzeria, and knew the area like the palm of his hand."
Lessons Learned from the Arrest of the “Fort Dix Six” • A local private sector and citizen awareness program could assist police in recognizing similar activities. • The men utilized remote areas like the Poconos for arms training. • Furthermore, one of the six terrorists who delivered pizza to Fort Dix from his family business was given maps and allowed to drive around the base freely. • Secure areas should consider plans to prevent individuals from taking advantage of a similar situation in the future. Instead, security protocol could include having the soldiers come pick up the food at the base's security checkpoint.
Why you can make a difference 2010 Time Square Bombing Attempt Faisal Shahzad‘s 1993 Nissan Pathfinder SUV Vehicle
2010 Time Square Bombing • On Saturday evening, May 1, 2010, two street vendors, T-shirt seller Lance Orton (56) and handbag seller Duane Jackson (58), noticed smoke drifting from vents near the back seat of the unoccupied vehicle, which was parked with its engine running and its hazard lights on. • They also heard firecrackers going off inside. The street vendors, including Aliou Niasse, who works as a photograph vendor on Times Square, were the first to see the abandoned smoking vehicle and subsequently, the smoking car was brought to the attention of a mounted policeman.
Why you can make a difference Bush’s Dallas home was on Saudi’s list of bomb targets • FBI agents say the Preston Hollow home of former President George Bush and first lady Laura Bush was among the potential bombing targets listed by a Saudi Arabian citizen arrested Wednesday on charges of attempting use a weapon of mass destruction.
Bush’s Dallas home was on Saudi’s list of bomb targets • Authorities say Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari came to the United States with one goal: to kill Americans, including President George W. Bush. • Aldawsari used a student visa to enter the country and a Saudi corporate scholarship to finance a year of English language classes at Vanderbilt University, chemical engineering classes at Texas Tech University and business classes at South Plains College. • In early February, authorities say, he tried to buy the third critical ingredient for a chemical bomb. He already had the other two. • After the company and the shipper from which he tried to purchase the chemical alerted authorities, Aldawsari, a 20-year-old Saudi Arabia native, was arrested by the FBI in Lubbock on Wednesday. He is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, including on the Dallas home of the man he called “tyrant” — Bush.
What To Do If You Spot Suspicious Terrorist Activity • If you see suspicious behavior, do not confront the individuals involved. • Take note of the details:
What To Do If You Spot Suspicious Terrorist Activity Take notes of the following details: • S – Size (Jot down the number of people, gender, ages, and physical descriptions) • A - Activity (Describe exactly what they are doing) • L - Location (Provide exact location) • U – Uniform (Describe what they are wearing, including shoes) • T – Time (Provide date, time, and duration of activity) • E - Equipment (Describe vehicle, make, color etc., license plate, camera, guns, etc) Suspicious activity is often recalled after an event. We must train ourselves to be on the lookout for things that are out of the ordinary and arouse suspicions.
What To Do If You Spot Suspicious Terrorist Activity • Stick with the facts: Hunches or gut feelings that someone is suspicious do not provide the facts. • Write down the information: This will help you remember the details. • DO NOT approach any boat, car or truck behaving in a suspicious manner, or if they are about to / committing a crime or illegal act.
What To Do If You Spot Suspicious Terrorist Activity • DO NOTmake your observations known to the suspicious boat. • DO NOT attempt to make contact with a suspicious boat or person. • DO NOT attempt to take control of the situation
Keep in mind, those who commit terrorist acts: • Usually live among us without appearing suspicious while planning and preparing for their attack. They may be your neighbor, student or friend. • Often they will need training or equipment that will arouse suspicion. • Need to conduct surveillance on possible targets and gather information on the planned attack location. • All of these things make terrorists vulnerable to detection, by those watching for certain characteristics.
Stay alert in your daily travels and routines and get to know: • Who your neighbors are; • What cars are normally in your neighborhood; • Who regularly makes deliveries at work and in your neighborhood.
It is impossible to identify a terrorist by: • Appearance • Nationality • Language • You CAN only identify a terrorist threat by observing or hearing about suspicious activity that may lead to a criminal act.
Staying alert is NOT about becoming paranoid. Staying alert is being aware of one’s surroundings. • Which one is more suspicious?
Identifying suspicious activity is not a difficult science. • Rely on your judgment. • Your suspicion of a threat could be confirmed with only one incident or it could take a series of incidents.
Your suspicions will need to be based on: • Experience • Judgment • Common Sense
Review Some Possible Suspicious Activity • Maybe you are at a high profile location or a National Monument and you notice a person nearby taking several photos. That’s not unusual. But then you notice that the person is only taking photos of the location’s surveillance cameras, entrance crash barriers and access control procedures.
The Following Should Cause a Heightened Sense of Suspicion: • Suspicious or unusual interest • Surveillance (suspicious in nature) • Inappropriate photographs or videos • Note-taking • Probing questions concerning security procedures
The following should cause a heightened sense of suspicion: • Drawing of diagrams • Annotating maps • Using binoculars or night vision devices, especially when focused on maritime critical infrastructure during times that appear unusual.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Individuals avoiding eye contact • Individuals departing quickly when seen or approached
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Boats operating at night without running lights. • Person(s) returning repeatedly to non-traditional locations such as a spot near a bridge, or landmark. • Diving activity occurring at unusual times of the day and season.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Person(s) engaging in unusual activity at odd hours such as wearing sunglasses at night, having snorkeling or diving equipment at night or flashlights during the day • Unusual or suspicious driving activities around marinas, vessels, wharfs, bridges, ports, dams, tunnels, etc.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Filming/camera activity near critical marine infrastructure or bridges. • Any type of activities or circumstances that seem suspicious or unusual within the normal routines of your neighborhood, community, workplace- if on, or around the water and recreational areas.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Asking unusual questions about marine activities, security or major facilities. • Boats riding excessively low in the water which could be carrying unknown cargo (people, ammunitions, etc.) • Boats with no registration numbers or name displayed. • Things that just don’t belong.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Activity around large commercial boats such as taking pictures, coming too close or inside safety zones. • Person(s) wearing unusual clothing for weather conditions. • Boats entering prohibited or restricted areas.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Abandoned/unattended boats, cars, or trucks in or near unusual locations, major facilities, or public areas. • Attempts to buy or charter boats using large cash payments. • Persons bragging or talking about plans to harm citizens in violent attacks or claims membership in a terrorist organization.
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • LOOK FOR AND REPORT: • Suspicious waterfront loitering • Forcible access • Persons photographing, taping or sketching • Liquids being poured into reservoirs or lakes
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • LOOK FOR AND REPORT: • Forcible access
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Apparently dangerous loads and/or cargoes • Items that appear to be weapons or explosives
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Boats loitering under bridges or by locks or dams • Diving operations near any critical infrastructure • Vessels operating without any running lights, especially around critical infrastructure
Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is present; be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: • Boats or divers in naval protection zones • Note appearance, size, coloring of individuals • Note type of boat, car, registration, etc. • If diving is involved, note color of equipment
Fraudulent IDs include: • Driver’s license • Social security card • Passport • Birth certificate • INS identification
Fraudulent IDs • If you believe someone is using or has altered government identification, please notify the law enforcement authorities. • Do NOT request to see another person’s ID when not appropriate. • Allow law enforcement officers to do the investigating. • Use established security protocols for entry onto your facility, and if you use private security, test them.
Terrorists, when not acting alone, need to meet with their conspirators and often times work within a cell. Pay attention to visitors and guests that: • Arrive and leave at unusual hours • Park an unusual distance from the meeting • Have an unusual number of unrelated people living together • Not all people who maintain privacy are terrorists. But people intent on doing illegal acts want to be left alone.
Pay attention to purchases, rentals or thefts of: • Ammunition • Propane bottles • Toxic chemicals • Vehicles or Vessels able to contain or haul hazardous materials
Additional suspicious activity may include: • Someone bragging or talking about plans to harm citizens in violent attacks or who claims membership in a terrorist organization that espouses killing innocent people. • Suspicious packages, luggage, or mail that have been abandoned in a crowded place like an office building, an airport, a cruise terminal, or an adjacent downtown shopping area (Inner Harbor, Downtown City Dock, National Harbor).
Additional suspicious activity may include: • Any type of activity or circumstance that seems frightening or unusual within the normal routines of your neighborhood, community, and workplace. • Someone unfamiliar loitering in a parking lot, public place adjacent to maritime critical infrastructure. • A vessel probing close to established security zones, testing established facility security protocols.
Additional Information Can Be Found • Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) website www.dnr.state.md.us/nrp/ • The United States Coast Guard’s “America’s Waterway Watch Program” websitehttp://www.americaswaterwaywatch.org/ • The Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center’s website http://www.mcac-md.gov/ • The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security at http://www.gohs.maryland.gov/
TO REPORT A SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY in and around Maryland’s Waterways: Contact the Maryland Natural Resources Police “See Something, Say Something” 1-800-628-9944 ****The Police Communications' operator will ask for your information in case additional questions or clarification is required.