US Olympics Security: If you See Something,Say Something

(Bellingham, WA)-- Officials of the many local, state, and federal agencies working to make the US side of the border safe during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics urge residents to be vigilant and report suspicious objects or events to their local 911 center.

“If you see something, say something,” said Major General Tim Lowenberg, Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard. “Local people know best what does or doesn’t belong in a particular place and what behavior is unusual.”

Lowenberg stressed that the response to any event or emergency will remain in the hands of agencies that would handle them on any other day.

“There’s no special number to remember during the Olympics. Just call 911 to quickly and easily report something you find suspicious,” said Lowenberg.

Reasons to call 911 can include:

• An unattended package or briefcase at a transit stop or other crowded area;
• An unusual piece of mail arriving at a local business;
• An unknown vehicle parked illegally, or for an extended period of time;
• People watching critical infrastructure such as hospitals, electrical substations or major industrial plants without apparent reason.

An Olympics Coordination Center has been established in Bellingham to provide communication and support for first-response agencies that might handle an emergency on the US side of the border. Core staff from key agencies will be in the center throughout the entire games, and representatives of many more agencies are on-call should their expertise be needed.

“We expect winter weather or traffic crashes to be our biggest problems,” said Undersheriff Jeff Parks of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. “But we will be ready to support those first-response agencies should something happen on our side of the border.”Officials are mindful that the games are in Canada, but want to make sure that the US side remains safe as well.“Please go about your daily activities. We just ask that you be a little extra vigilant during this particular time,” Parks said.

Contact:

Joe Bates, Whatcom County, (360) 676-6707x 52510
Bob Calkins, Washington State Patrol, (360) 596-4013
Mike Milne, US Customs and Border Protection, (206) 553-6944 x614

X X X

printer friendly