- What is Overland Park doing about biological threats?
Public safety officials have adopted new procedures for addressing biological threats. There are dozens of biological threats, which may occur as the result of a criminal act or by natural means (such as salmonella). The best source for learning more about biological threats is the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Within the Standard Operating Procedure created by police and fire officials is a process regarding the reporting of a potential threat.
Local public safety officials work directly with the FBI and health officials.
- What are those procedures regarding a biological threat?
When a potential victim calls police regarding any suspicious package or material, a dispatcher will inquire as to the nature of the emergency.
After receiving crucial information from a caller, the dispatcher will attempt to determine the emergency and discuss it with the caller. If it is declared to be a non-emergency and the caller is satisfied with the resolution, no officers will be sent to respond.
However, if there exists a potential threat, or the caller insists upon the presence of emergency personnel, a police officer will be directed to take action.
If there are no reports of illness or medical symptoms, it will be dispatched as a non-emergency.
If there are reports of illness or medical symptoms, it will be dispatched as an emergency medical call.
In the event of a potential threat, dispatchers will obtain as much information as possible, noting the exact words of a written threat or statements made on the telephone.
Additionally, dispatchers will provide the following instructions to a caller:
- Do not open any unopened suspicious letter or package.
- If opened, determine if a suspicious material is present. If a suspicious material is evident, determine if it has been sprayed or dispersed in the air in any way.
- Advise the handler of the letter or package to remain in the area and make certain no others come in contact with the item.
- If suspicious material is visible, do not disturb or make any attempt to clean up.
- Advice
from US Postal service on how to handle suspicious mail.
- What will the police do upon arrival at a suspected scene?
An officer will evaluate the material, package or letter and whether its origin can be logically determined. Further, if possible, it may be necessary for the recipient or the officer to attempt to contact the sender of the item for verification.
If the officer is unable to obtain a reasonable explanation, the next step will be to evaluate and determine the credible target level and credible suspicion level with regard to overall danger.
Through professional training and life experience, common sense must prevail when determining the status of a credible target or credible suspicion.
A credible target would be an organization, agency, business or individual with a high public profile.
A credible suspicion would include packages or letters for which the sender intended to cause a reaction/police action or items the recipient finds to be unusual or alarming. Any item found in an unusual location within a structure that cannot be accounted for may be considered suspicious. Other indicators include those that fall within guidelines published and disseminated by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service and others.
- If an officer deems a threat exists, what is the next step?
The Police will request assistance from the Overland Park Fire Department Hazardous Materials Unit. Haz-Mat officials and police officers will continue with an assessment of the material, package or letter to determine if it meets the FBI protocol for testing. If the material is to be tested, the Haz-Mat Team will recover and triple bag it per mandated procedures. It will be sent to the FBI for analysis.
Fire Department officials will also coordinate emergency response with Johnson County Med-Act for safe transportation and medical treatment of any victim, if necessary.
- What materials will be collected and tested for biological agents?
The Police and Fire departments will follow guidelines set forth by the FBI on Oct. 16, 2001.
They are as follows:
- Unopened letters/packages with no suspicious markings or indicators: No law enforcement/emergency response action is recommended. Recipients of the letter/package may be advised that if they are concerned about opening it, not to do so.
- Opened letters/packages that do not contain either threatening correspondence or material such as powders or liquids: No law enforcement response is recommended.
- Opened letters/packages with material, that has spilled: Law enforcement will follow local response protocols for potential hazardous materials. The local FBI office may be notified and can coordinate a threat assessment and technical assistance, as necessary.
- Unopened (sealed) letters/packages with suspicious markings or indicators: Police and fire should follow local protocols for responding to a location and collecting an item.
If a suspicious material does not meet the FBI guidelines and is not considered evidence in any other criminal matter, the FBI and police and fire departments will not recover it. If a business or individual wants a private laboratory analysis conducted, fire officials will triple-bag it per their procedures in preparation for its transport being transported by a non-government courier retained by the business or individual.
- Overland Park is part of a seven-county metropolitan region. What is being done to
coordinate efforts and assistance?
The Special Operations Response Team (SORT) of the Fire Department provides hazardous material mitigation and detection services for Overland Park and other metropolitan communities. The Overland Park Fire Department is one of six Haz-Mat teams in the region comprising the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS). MMRS, which also includes area hospitals and health care agencies, can work with various biological, nuclear and chemical emergencies.
- What should I do if I suspect a suspicious package, letter or substance?
Follow the five-minute rule. Evaluate your surroundings and determine if a credible threat exists and why. Carefully eliminate the potential for other logical explanations that may provide an explanation of a suspicious package, letter or substance. For instance, if you see a white powdery substance on your kitchen floor, consider what cooking events have taken place in the past few days. Also, contemplate the likelihood of someone placing a dangerous substance on the kitchen floor.
If you rule out all reasonable situations and believe a credible threat or suspicion exists, call 9-1-1.
- What is the city doing about calls in which a biological threat is a hoax or prank?
The Overland Park Police Department, in conjunction with the Johnson County District Attorney's office, will investigate all false calls, regardless if it was a hoax or prank, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Federal laws may also be applicable and separately pursued.
Other agencies to contact for more information are: