Operation TIPP aims to educate the business community about potential threats; toll-free number – 1-877-YOU-WATCH – established for reporting suspicious activity
(Washington, DC) The Metropolitan Police Department is enlisting the help of DC’s business community in detecting and preventing possible terrorist acts before they occur, through a new program called Operation TIPP – Terrorist Incident Prevention Program.
Under the initiative, the MPDC is reaching out to area businesses with information on how to detect suspicious activity that may be related to terrorism within their particular industry or service area. In addition, the MPDC has created a toll-free Operation TIPP line – 1-877-YOU-WATCH – for businesses and their employees to report suspicious activity to the police.
“Detecting and preventing terrorism truly is everyone’s business,” said Mayor Anthony A. Williams. “Operation TIPP is designed to raise awareness of terrorism among our partners in the business community and to empower them with both information and an easy and confidential way to report suspicious activity to the police.”
Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey explained that Operation TIPP is designed to address an ongoing concern that individuals seeking to commit acts of terrorism may attempt to portray themselves as legitimate customers at businesses in the DC area. Potential terrorists may seek to purchase, lease, or steal certain materials or equipment, or undergo training to acquire skills or licenses that would further their terrorist plots.
“Operation TIPP is designed to make it easier for businesses to recognize and report suspicious conduct that may not be criminal per se, but may raise suspicion because the conduct does not match a business’s experience in dealing with legitimate customer requests,” Chief Ramsey said. “Through Operation TIPP, this type of information can be captured, analyzed, and followed up by the appropriate local, regional or federal authorities.”
Ramsey said the MPDC has identified more than four dozen industries and services that terrorists could potentially target. For each industry or service group, the MPDC is preparing customized information packets outlining suspicious activities or requests that may be of concern to law enforcement. This information will be distributed via mailings, visits by police officers and outreach through business and industry groups.
“The Greater Washington Board of Trade applauds the efforts of Mayor Williams’s administration and the Metropolitan Police Department in developing this new TIPP program. We look forward to working with the city on other projects to help make our region better prepared, including a citizen education campaign that will be launched this year,” said Caroline Cunningham, Vice President-Regional Partnership, Greater Washington Board of Trade.
Calls to the Operation TIPP hotline are answered by trained police professionals from the MPDC. All calls to the hotline are confidential, and callers need not provide their names or contact information. However, the MPD does encourage callers to provide this information, to support any follow-up investigation that may be necessary.
“Through Operation TIPP, we are facilitating the type of information exchange between industry and law enforcement that is so critical to achieving our common goal of preventing terrorism and protecting our communities,” Chief Ramsey said.
The costs of Operation TIPP materials are being paid for with federal grant funds awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. For additional information, contact the MPDC’s Special Operations Division, (202) 671-6505, or visit the MPDC website.
