Terrorism Topic of WPCRO Meeting



On November 9, the Wilkens Police Community Relations Organization (WPCRO) met at the Maiden Choice School in Arbutus. In addition to its regular reports on area crime, the WPCRO meeting featured a report on terror prevention from the Baltimore County Police.

Maj. Jeffrey Caslin, the department's Homeland Security Officer, spoke about his division's activities. According to Caslin, a 37-year veteran of the force, Baltimore County has the 23rd largest police department in the nation, of approximately 17,000 total. Caslin noted that his division was the smallest in the department, comprised of himself, a full-time officer and a "loaned" officer.

Caslin said that there have been 33 publicly known terror plots in the United States since September of 2001. These plots "made their way back to the third or fourth pages of the newspaper, so nobody heard about many of them," Caslin said.

Highlighting the region's exposure to Homeland Security threats, Caslin told the audience that Baltimore, as the most inland port in the United States and with a close proximity to the nation's capital and New York City, makes an inviting target for terrorists. In spite of this, Calsin said, only 5 % of arrivals at the Port of Baltimore are scanned for security purposes.

Caslin told the WPCRO that threat reporting is higher than ever before, and that terrorist planning is going on "right now. There's a lot of chatter going on. The feeling from the people who study this stuff is that it isn't a question of if, it's a question of when."

This increase in threat reporting is the reason that electronic highway signs are advertising the Maryland Tips Line (1-800-462-TIPS) more regularly now, Caslin said.

Urging vigilance, Caslin asked that citizens "be alert and pay attention." Recounting an incident of suspected terrorists photographing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Caslin warned, "If you see someone taking pictures (of public places) be suspicious. The threat is real."

Captain John Spiroff, Wilkens Precinct Commander, said that reports of burglaries, robberies and auto thefts had decreased significantly from last year's figures. He also noted increased cooperation between the police departments of Baltimore County, UMBC and CCBC. Even with these positive developments, challenges remain, according to Spiroff.

"Every time we lock someone up, there's always a (prior criminal) record. So, there's something wrong there," Spiroff said.

Officer Jack Reese received the Officer of the Month award for September. According to the department, he did not wish for his photograph to be published.

Captain Spiroff listed Reese's accomplishments as "leading the squad in traffic enforcement with 91 citations, two warnings and 21 serious traffic clearances."

Spiroff added that Reese had been responsible for the storage of 17 vehicles and two narcotics arrests, one of which involved the seizure of six bags of crack cocaine and a large quantity of cash.

Officer Reese was an "exceptional role model for his peers," Spiroff said.

Officer Mike Darcy offered the audience seasonal crime prevention tips.

"The malls will be much more crowded. We have to be very active in our personal safety," Darcy said. "Park in well lit areas and don't dangle purses." Contrary to popular belief, Darcy added, "Malls are not safe areas."

Earlier, WPCRO President Lorna Rudnikas had opened the evening with a recap of the previous month's Halloween fundraising dance. Rudnikas congratulated members Cindy Loverde and Steve Whistler as winners of the "Best Costume" contest, and Sen. Edward Kasemeyer for his victory in the limbo competition. Rudnikas also noted that competing political events siphoned off attendance for the dance, but still termed the evening a success. Next year's fundraising dance has already been scheduled for October 1, with a theme of "football."

WPCRO meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7pm. For more information, contact WPCRO at (410) 744-1584.