Police beefs up security amid terror suspicions
POLICE HDQTRS. — Authorities are on heightened alert as a possible probe of the Santa Monica Pier was conducted last month by suspected Middle Eastern operatives who may be involved in a terrorist organization.
Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. said a citizen on July 3 spotted three men — each of Middle Eastern decent — suspiciously videotaping specific areas of the pier, including access roads and the SMPD’s substation. The citizen tipped police off to the suspicious activity in late July, an action prompted by the London bombings earlier that month.
As a result, the city of Santa Monica and the SMPD are in the process of beefing up security in the downtown area and the pier, including the installation of surveillance cameras and bolstering patrols with bomb-sniffing dogs.
The cost of the heightened security is loosely estimated at $2 million.
“This is something that needs to be done in recognition that the world has changed and in recognition that we are an international tourist destination,” Butts said, adding he believes that the increased security measures will not hinder tourism, but enhance it.
The citizen who spotted the men deemed their behavior odd because they weren’t videotaping one another, which is typical of tourists. Rather, two of the men were acting more as “look-outs” while a third videotaped. As a result, the citizen photographed the individuals from a distance and held onto the images.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, the citizen was finally moved to contact the SMPD on July 22.
“He felt he might have been overreacting and would be viewed as someone who was a panicked citizen,” Butts said. “Then he thought about it and thought he should let us know.”
It wasn’t until July 26 that the citizen handed over the photos of the men to the SMPD, who shared them with state and federal agencies the following day.
“They concurred that these photos were something to be concerned about,” Butts said.
Based on intelligence from other agencies, the same men have been seen recently videotaping the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Long Beach and the Huntington Beach Pier. Another agency confirmed that the same individuals were seen videotaping at the 2003 Academy Awards.
After the SMPD distributed a flyer last week to state and federal authorities about the suspicious activity, two agencies informed Santa Monica police that they had been in contact with the individuals in recent months. Butts said those agencies intercepted video footage from the individuals which contained images from Universal CityWalk and the Santa Monica Pier.
Butts shared the photos of the men with local media briefly on Wednesday, but wouldn’t release them because the individuals don’t know they are being investigated and publicizing their faces could hinder the investigation.Shortly before meeting with local media on Wednesday morning, Butts met with the business community, including officials from the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp., which manages the pier; the Bayside District Corp., which manages downtown Santa Monica; and several businesses affected by the heightened security measures, particularly the luxury hotels at the beach and other merchants along the sand.
Kathleen Rawson, executive director of the Bayside District Corp., said the news was surprising, but contends she isn’t too alarmed because preemptive measures are being taken.
“I feel very confident that the police department is taking good care of the people and visitors of Santa Monica,” she said.
Butts also met with the Santa Monica City Council behind closed doors on Tuesday night during a closed session to inform elected officials of the precautions being taken.
Immediately after showing the photos of the men to state and federal authorities, the SMPD conducted a security check at the pier and made immediate changes to patrols, including adding four overtime police officers and reconfiguring the observation posts. Security has been bolstered beneath the pier and surrounding the structure’s pilings.
Plans to train and hire additional K-9 officers with bomb-sniffing dogs are already underway. Butts also anticipates hiring at least two new K-9 officers, realizing four may be necessary. The dogs themselves cost $5,000 apiece and the specially trained officers command about $100,000 a year in salary.
“There also will be a number of physical enhancements to the pier in the near future,” Butts said, adding he wouldn’t elaborate on what those measures are. “There will be random checks of vehicles that come onto the pier.”
The Third Street Promenade will also be subject to increased security, including the installation of security cameras, which will be placed throughout the downtown area and the pier. Signs will be posted throughout the Bayside District indicating that cameras are rolling.
Butts said he and city officials are currently working with a consultant about the size and scope of the project. The camera system’s installation and equipment will likely be an emergency purchase and won’t go out for a public bid. The cost of the surveillance system is estimated at $1.1 million.
Butts envisions police personnel monitoring the cameras in real time from a centralized location. The footage will be stored in digital format on hard drives for up to six months. The surveillance system has its advantages beyond scoping for terrorist activity, he added.
“It will allow us to detect crimes in progress or look back at the tape,” Butts said.
Police ask that anyone who spots suspicious filming, akin to the July 3 camera-men, act in a manner resembling the man who forwarded photos to police — to write down license plate numbers, take photographs of the individuals and note as much detail as possible. Then, call the authorities.
“We are asking people to pay attention to their surroundings,” Butts said, adding the SMPD’s Web site, santamonicapd.org, has information on terrorism and what precautions individuals can take.
City officials, including fire and police personnel, conduct annual training drills that relate to emergency preparedness and terrorist attacks. Last year, the drill was a mock chemical attack. The year prior was a massive countywide drill, with a mock bus bombing in Santa Monica.
“Our emergency preparedness systems are so advanced in this city,” said City Hall spokeswoman Judy Rambeau. “This gives us another opportunity to look at our security measures and see where to enhance them.”
Because of the sensitivity of the investigation, Butts said he wouldn’t provide much detail on the individuals. He knows their identities and nationalities, but won’t reveal them. He also knows if they are American citizens, but wouldn’t confirm their status.
“This is all intelligence and security issues so we are not going to discuss information that doesn’t pertain to Santa Monica,” Butts said. But he added that the public needs to be informed of the activity and the precautions being taken.
“This is suspicious activity that can be curtailed and prevented,” he said. “These changes will make us different but will make us better.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 11, 2005. Read the original PDF.