[Austin Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program News Conference ]
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MY NAME IS QUENTIN O'BRIEN AND I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCIES BOMB MAKING MATERIALS AWARENESS PROGRAM, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS BMAC.
WE ARE HERE TODAY AT THE JOINT CITY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CAMPUS WHERE POLICE, FIRE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TRAIN AND DEVELOP THEIR TEAMS. WE WANT TO THANK THESE MEN AND WOMEN FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU TO OUR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS EXAMPLE OF LEVERAGING THE STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM GRANT FOR COORDINATED OUTREACH TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS WITH A SHARED GOAL OF SECURING OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE, WE COMMEND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR CHAMPIONING THIS PROGRAM TO MITIGATE BOMBING INCIDENTS.
IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ARE A PERSISTENT AND ENDURING THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
IN FACT, THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL EXPLOSIVE FIRE AND BOMB THREAT RELATED INCIDENTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS PART OF COMBINED EFFORTS TO SAFEGUARD CITIZENS AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
OPERATION, FLASHPOINT AND BMAP INITIATIVES DEMONSTRATE THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ALONG WITH STATE, LOCAL, AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS.
BY COMBINING RESOURCES, WE REACH MORE PEOPLE, MAXIMIZE IMPACT, AND SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY.
TOGETHER WE CAN EMPOWER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND SAVE LIVES.
CSA COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS, STORE OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES IN COLLABORATION WITH FBI COUNTERPARTS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE, TRAINING, AND TOOLS TO HELP PREVENT THREATS AND PROTECT OUR NATION.
BOMB MAKING MATERIALS ARE READILY AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AT BEAUTY SUPPLY STORES, HARDWARE STORES, POOL SUPPLY STORES, SPORTING GOODS, HOME IMPROVEMENT, AND OTHERS.
IN FACT, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 80,000 BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT SELL OR DISTRIBUTE PRODUCTS CONTAINING CHEMICALS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE A BOMB.
EXAMPLES OF EVERYDAY PRODUCTS INCLUDE FERTILIZER, HAIR DEVELOPER, POOL, SANITIZERS, NAIL POLISH, REMOVAL, AND DRAIN CLEANER, PROMOTING EARLY DETECTION OF THE SALE OF PRECURSOR CHEMICALS, EXPLOSIVE POWDER AND EXPLOS.
FLOATING TARGET MATERIAL IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY FROM BOMBING INCIDENTS, BUSINESSES, EMPLOYEES, AND THE PUBLIC PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES FROM BAD ACTORS WHO SEEK TO USE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES MADE FROM COMMON HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS.
JOINT INITIATIVES BETWEEN THE FBI AND CISA, SUCH AS OPERATION FLASHPOINT ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES TO AND THE PUBLIC TO VOLUNTARILY REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BUYING LARGE AMOUNTS, MULTIPLE SMALL PURCHASES, OR A COMBINATION OF CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE BOMBS.
THE FBI CISA OFFICE FOR BOMBING PREVENTION.
CITY OFFICIALS AND YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT NEED YOUR HELP TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEFARIOUS ACQUISITION OR IMPROPER USE OF THESE PRODUCTS.
BUSINESSES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE CRITICAL AT HELPING TO PREVENT BOMBING ATTACKS.
YOU ARE THE NATION'S EYES AND EARS IN FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE.
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BUSINESSES CAN HELP RECOGNIZE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN THEIR PRODUCT INVENTORY AND REPORT SUSPICIOUS OR UNUSUAL PURCHASES TO AUTHORITIES.MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO OBSERVE SUSPICIOUS PURCHASES OF BOMB MAKING MATERIAL AND ACTIVITIES.
OUR COLLECTIVE GOAL IS TO BUILD A NETWORK OF VIGILANT AND INFORMED STAKEHOLDERS WHO WILL SEE SOMETHING AND SAY SOMETHING TO PREVENT BOMBING ATTACKS.
WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN IMPROVE PROTECTION, PREVENTION, MITIGATION, AND RISK MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO STAY AHEAD OF THE THREAT, ENHANCE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR POINT OF SALE AWARENESS, INCREASE THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND PURCHASING BEHAVIOR, AND IMPROVE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING OF APPROPRIATE TO APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS.
PLEASE REPORT IMMINENT THREATS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR 9 1 1 FOR NON IMMINENT THREATS.
PLEASE FOLLOW REPORTING GUIDELINES PROVIDED TODAY@IWATCHTEXAS.ORG.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
YOUR VIGILANCE AND ASSISTANCE ARE CRITICAL IN THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AND ONE OF OUR BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY DETECTION.
JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THESE PARTNERS TO TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE DPS TEXAS OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
I WORK IN THE TEXAS OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AT DPS AND WE ARE THE STATE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE BMAP PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
STATE OF TEXAS HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE BM A PROGRAM FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME IN COORDINATION WITH OUR PARTNERS AT DHS CS A AS WELL WITH PARTNERS AT THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL ACROSS TEXAS.
WE HAVE TRAINED OVER 300 BMAP PARTICIPANTS IN CITIES ALL OVER THE STATE.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM AND ITS GOAL OF ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS LIKE BMAP, THEY ARE A CORNERSTONE OF HOMELAND SECURITY PREPAREDNESS, BOTH IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
OUR RETAIL PARTNERS CAN BE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES AND HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL ATTACKS, HELPING TO ALERT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SUSPICIOUS BUYING PATTERNS AND BUYING BEHAVIORS THAT COULD BE LINKED TO POTENTIAL CRIMINAL OR TERRORIST ACTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE, AT THE STATE OF TEXAS AND AT DPS, WE APPLAUD THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO STRENGTHENING BMAP IN CENTRAL TEXAS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
TO ENSURE THIS PROGRAM'S SUCCESS, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, TEXAS HIGHWAY PATROL SERGEANT BRIAN WASHCO, WHO'S GONNA MAKE A FEW REMARKS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IWATCH TEXAS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS SERGEANT BRIAN WASHCO WITH THE TEXAS HIGHWAY PATROL.
UH, TODAY I'M GONNA DISCUSS THE IWATCH TEXAS PROGRAM.
IT'S A COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE ABILITY TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIORS.
CURRENTLY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THERE'S ABOUT 80, JUST OVER 80,000 COMMISSIONED POLICE OFFICERS, AND THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT.
HOWEVER, WITH OUR POPULATION NEARING 30 MILLION PEOPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE OFTEN RELY ON THE COMMUNITY, UH, ASSISTANCE FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE RELY ON THEM TO BE OUR EYES AND EARS.
SO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LIVE IN, UH, WE ASK THAT THEY STAY VIGILANT.
STAY VIGILANT YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
KNOW WHAT'S NORMAL AND KNOW WHAT ISN'T NORMAL, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT Y'ALL KNOW.
LIVING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT NORMAL.
WHEN SOMETHING APPEARS SUSPICIOUS OR DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY BE RIGHT.
PREPARATIONS FOR CRIMES, TERRORIST ATTACKS AND THREATS TO SCHOOL SAFETY MAY OFTEN BE SEEN, BUT GO UNREPORTED.
SOME EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIORS AND ACTIVITIES TO REPORT ARE COMMENTS MADE REGARDING KILLING OR HARMING SOMEBODY.
STRANGERS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT BUILDING SECURITY FEATURES AND PROCEDURES, A BRIEFCASE, SUITCASE,
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BACKPACK, OR A PACKAGE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT UNATTENDED.ANY VEHICLE THAT'S BEEN LEFT IN A NO PARKING ZONE, UH, AT AN IMPORTANT BUILDING, ANY CHEMICAL SMELL OR FUMES THAT ARE UNUSUAL FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
ALSO, ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S REQUESTING SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS BLUEPRINTS, SECURITY PLANS, OR ANY VIP TRAVEL SCHEDULES THAT ARE NOT ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS.
UH, PURCHASING SUPPLIES THAT COULD BE USED TO MAKE BOMBS OR WEAPONS FOR PURCHASING UNIFORMS WITHOUT HAVING PROPER CREDENTIALS.
ANYONE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, UH, OR VIDEOS OF SECURITY FEATURES SUCH AS CAMERAS OR CHECKPOINTS? A REPORT CAN BE MADE AT THE IWATCH TEXAS PROGRAM VIA THE FREE DOWNLOADABLE MOBILE APP ONLINE@WWW.IWATCHTX.ORG OR BY CALLING 1 8 4 4 6 4 3 2 2 5 1.
AND IT'S BOTH AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND IN ENGLISH.
REPORTING TO I WATCH PROGRAM, IT'S NOT GONNA CONSUME A LOT OF YOUR TIME.
UH, MATTER OF FACT, THE REPORT ACTUALLY PROBABLY TAKES JUST UNDER FIVE MINUTES.
AND ONCE AN I WATCH REPORT IS SUBMITTED, EACH REPORT IS REVIEWED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST.
AND REMEMBER, ALL REPORTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DO PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION, IT IS OPTIONAL.
AND, UH, PROVIDING YOUR INFORMATION WILL ALLOW FOR A FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS IF THAT NEED ARISES.
AND THE IWATCH TEXAS PROGRAM IS NOT DESIGNED TO REPORT EMERGENCIES.
REMEMBER, IF, IF THERE'S A SITUATION THAT'S IN DI THAT REQUIRES EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ALWAYS CALL 9 1 1.
AND AS A REMINDER, FALSE REPORTING TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS GONNA BE A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.
EVERY REPORT TO IWATCH TEXAS IS A SUCCESS.
THERE IS NO INFORMATION THAT IS DEEMED TOO LITTLE.
WHEN IN DOUBT, SPEAK UP BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS, PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE IWATCH COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM AND REMEMBER TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS.
IWATCH TEXAS ALLOWS ONE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE IWATCH, TEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM MAY ULTIMATELY SAVE LIVES.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, KEN SNIPES.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE REGIONAL BOMB MAKING, UH, AND AWARENESS MATERIALS AWARENESS PROGRAM.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK OUR PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM, THE STATE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DEPARTMENT.
AS PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, WE WORKED TOGETHER TO SERVE THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT ADMINISTERED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE.
AUSTIN IS THE FIRST JURISDICTION IN THE COUNTRY TO USE GRANT FUNDING TO DEVELOP A BMAP PROGRAM, AND IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE.
WITH THE LAUNCH OF THIS PROGRAM, OUR OUTREACH TEAM WILL CONDUCT WITH, WILL CONNECT WITH THE BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE RETAILERS ABOUT THE TYPES OF PRODUCTS THAT THEY SELL THAT CAN BE USED FOR HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVES AS WELL AS DEVICES AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
OUR OUT OUR OUTREACH TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED HUNDREDS OF STORES THROUGHOUT THE REGION THAT THEY WILL BE TRYING TO CONNECT WITH OVER THE COMING MONTHS.
WE INVITE THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED TO ALSO REACH OUT TO US CHAMBERS ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CAN ALL REQUEST TRAINING AND EDUCATION MATERIALS AT HSEM COMMUNICATIONS@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV.
THAT'S H-S-E-M-C-O-M-M-U-N-I-C-A-T-I-O-N S@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV.
YOU CAN ALSO LEARN MORE@READYCENTRALTEXAS.ORG SLASH BMAP.
THAT'S READY CENTRAL TEST TEXAS.ORG/BAP.
BOTH THE PUBLIC AND RETAILERS CAN PLAY A PART IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
AND REMEMBER, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING AND NOW WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
SO COMMENT, UH, REGARDING, UH, WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AND WHAT THE BENEFIT IS TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE COMMUNITY IS OFTENTIMES THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF MATERIALS AND THESE TYPES OF, UH, MATERIALS BEING USED TO MAKE BOMB MAKING MATERIALS.
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THAT WE ARE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATING, UH, OUR, UH, VARIOUS VENDORS AROUND THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, BRING, UH, THOSE TYPES OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERCEPT AND ENGAGE.I DUNNO IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.
UH, YEAH, JUST TO, UH, FOLLOW UP ON THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS THERE.
UH, I MEAN, I THINK WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT A PROGRAM LIKE BMAP IS THAT WE KNOW IT WORKS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE HAVE SEEN, UH, THIS KIND OF REPORTING FROM OUR PRIVATE SECTOR RETAIL PARTNERS, UH, HAVE, UM, IN THE PAST, UH, HAVE STOPPED ATTACKS, PLANT ATTACKS THAT WE KNEW WERE GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE FOUND OUT AFTERWARDS WERE GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE A RETAIL ASSOCIATE, UH, AT A STORE WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL WAS GETTING READY TO PURCHASE OR WAS PURCHASING MATERIALS IN PREPARATION FOR AN ATTACK, THAT INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT THAT, HEY, THIS INDIVIDUAL IS, IS BUYING CERTAIN THINGS IN A CERTAIN WAY, ACTING IN A CERTAIN WAY.
I'M GONNA AN ALERT, I'M GOING TO, UH, ALERT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, CONSEQUENTLY, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE, WERE IDENTIFIED AND THE ATTACKS WERE, UM, WERE, WERE, WERE HEADED OFF BEFORE THEY COULD HAPPEN.
AND IT HAS HAP IT, WE, WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND SO WE JUST WANT TO PROMOTE THAT.
BMAP IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SAY, SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, IT'S ALSO SEE SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING AND TRYING TO EMPOWER OUR PUBLIC, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RETAIL PARTNERS TO HEY, GET OUT THERE AND BE THAT FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AND EFFECTIVELY HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY SAFE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S REALLY JUST THE CORNERSTONE OF IT BECAUSE WE REAL, WE REALLY JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SAY, YOU KNOW, A FORCE MULTIPLIER IN PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELAND SECURITY PREPAREDNESS.
SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
SO, WELL, SO, UH, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ACTIVE, BMAP HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN TEXAS FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, JUST ABOUT 10 YEARS.
SO WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY PROMOTING IT AT THE STATE LOCAL LEVELS, UH, FOR, FOR ALMOST A DECADE.
BUT THIS IS A BRAND NEW PROGRAM HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH AGAIN, REALLY INNOVATIVE AND WE REALLY APPLAUD IT.
BUT WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE WITH BMAP, UH, FOR, FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS AT THIS POINT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE'RE GONNA NEXT MOVE OVER TO OUR INFORMATION TABLE, UH, AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THERE.