Terrorism affects the common man and the LAPD is trying to bring in the common man to help fight it. The police force has started a programme called the iWatch, which is an anti-terror programme for the city. In this people are made aware of the things that could be a prospective terrorist threat. This awareness programme is being spread across through pamphlets, posters etc to help the citizens identify possible threats and let them know who to contact through a list of contact info.
This programme, which started in October, has come under criticism for inculcating a tendency to racially segregate people. But Mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa defends this initiative by saying, “iWATCH not only provides an avenue to report suspicious activity, but more importantly it involves and educates the public about suspicious activities and behaviors, not personal characteristics, that may be associated with terrorist activities. The LAPD’s website lists suspicious behaviour but doesn’t provide guidance on profiling.â€
Those witnessing some suspicious behaviour are encouraged to call at 1-877-A-THREAT (1-877-284-7328),or 911 if an emergency or crime is actually occurring in front of your eyes. They can also contact their local police station, or log into iwatchla.org to file a report.
Via: lawa
