Suspicious Packages Capitol Police Department

Objectives n Give our community (state employees) knowledge of suspicious packages.

Objectives n Give our community (state employees) knowledge of suspicious packages. – What is a suspicious package or letter

Objectives n Give our community (state employees) knowledge of suspicious packages. – What is a suspicious package or letter – What to do if you have a suspicious item

Objectives n Give our community (state employees) knowledge of suspicious packages. – What is a suspicious package or letter – What to do if you have a suspicious item – What to do to minimize your risk before police arrive

Detecting Suspicious Packages or Letters n Important

Detecting Suspicious Packages or Letters n Important – The item does not have to be delivered by a carrier. Most bombers set up and deliver the bomb themselves.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If delivered by carrier, inspect for lumps, bulges, or protrusions, without applying pressure.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If delivered by carrier, inspect for lumps, bulges, or protrusions, without applying pressure. n If delivered by carrier, balance check if lopsided or heavy sided.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n Handwritten addresses or labels from companies are improper. Check to see if the company exists and if they sent a package or letter.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n Packages wrapped in string are automatically suspicious, as modern packaging materials have eliminated the need for twine or string.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n Excessive postage on small packages or letters indicate that the object was not weighed by Post Office.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n Excessive postage on small packages or letters indicate that the object was not weighed by Post Office. n No postage or non-canceled postage.

Suspicious Packages or letters n Any Foreign writing, addresses, or postage.

Suspicious Packages or letters n Any Foreign writing, addresses, or postage. n Handwritten notes, such as: “ to be opened in the privacy of” and “CONFIDENTIAL”

Suspicious Packages or letters n Any Foreign writing, addresses, or postage. n Handwritten notes, such as: “ to be opened in the privacy of” and “CONFIDENTIAL” n Improper spelling of common names, places or titles.

Suspicious Packages or letters n Any Foreign writing, addresses, or postage. n Handwritten notes, such as: “ to be opened in the privacy of” and “CONFIDENTIAL” n Improper spelling of common names, places or titles. n Generic or incorrect titles.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n Leaks, stains, or protruding wires, string, tape, etc.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n Leaks, stains, or protruding wires, string, tape, etc. n Packages or letters hand-delivered or dropped off for a friend.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n No return address or nonsensical return address.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n No return address or nonsensical return address. n Any letters or packages arriving before or after a phone call from unknown person asking if item was received.

What is suspicious about this

Bombs n Most bombs are homemade and are limited in their design only by the imagination of, and the resources available to the bomber.

Detecting Packages or letters n Be aware of your work area.

Detecting Packages or letters n Be aware of your work area. – Take time to look around your work area when you arrive and leave.

Detecting Packages or letters n Be aware of your work area. – Take time to look around your work area when you arrive and leave. n Your work space and common areas near it.

Detecting Packages or letters n Be aware of your work area. – Take time to look around your work area when you arrive and leave. n Your work space and common areas near it. n If you notice something, ask co-workers if it’s theirs or if they know who it belongs to.

Detecting Packages or letters n Know your Co-workers.

Detecting Packages or letters n Know your Co-workers. – If you notice someone walking around your work area. Ask if you can help him or her politely.

Detecting Packages or letters n Know your Co-workers. – If you notice someone walking around your work area. Ask if you can help him or her politely. n They may have a legitimate reason for being there.

Detecting Packages or letters n Know your Co-workers. – If you notice someone walking around your work area. Ask if you can help him or her politely. n They may have a legitimate reason for being there. n If not, you may stop them from doing something because they know the workers watch their areas.

Detecting Packages or letters n The building security is a big part of giving people the opportunity to do something like this.

Detecting Packages or letters n The building security is a big part of giving people the opportunity to do something like this. – When you exit the building, make sure doors secure behind you.

Detecting Packages or letters n The building security is a big part of giving people the opportunity to do something like this. – When you exit the building, make sure doors secure behind you. – It’s your responsibility to help us with security and your safety. Help us make sure buildings are secure when you leave.

Chemical or Biological Agents n Important fact

Chemical or Biological Agents n Important fact – The United States Postal Service has not had one confirmed incident involving the use of the mails to transmit any weapons of mass destruction to include chemical or biological agents. (Oct. 1st)

Chemical or Biological Agents n Important fact – The United States Postal Service has not had one confirmed incident involving the use of the mails to transmit any weapons of mass destruction to include chemical or biological agents. (Oct. 1st) n There are now three confirmed incidents

Chemical or Biological Agents n Important fact – The United States Postal Service has not had one confirmed incident involving the use of the mails to transmit any weapons of mass destruction to include chemical or biological agents. (Oct. 1st) n There are now three confirmed incidents – Since September 11th, 30 billion packages or letters have gone through USPS

Anthrax n There are three types of infection

Anthrax n There are three types of infection – Cutaneous (most common)

Anthrax n There are three types of infection – Cutaneous (most common) – Gastrointestinal

Anthrax n There are three types of infection – Cutaneous (most common) – Gastrointestinal – Inhalational

Chemical or Biological Agents n Skin and clothing offer a protection barrier to biological agents, few organisms adhere to skin or clothing.

Chemical or Biological Agents n Skin and clothing offer a protection barrier to biological agents, few organisms adhere to skin or clothing. n Simple removal of clothing eliminates a great majority of surface contamination.

Chemical or Biological Agents n Skin and clothing offer a protection barrier to biological agents, few organisms adhere to skin or clothing. n Simple removal of clothing eliminates a great majority of surface contamination. n Showering with soap and water removes percent of the few organisms left on skin.

Opening letters n Please DO NOT BLOW into envelope to get it open and remove letter.

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If you have a suspicious package. (unopened)

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If you have a suspicious package. (unopened) – Isolate package

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If you have a suspicious package. (unopened) – Isolate package – Call Capitol Police or local agency

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If you have a suspicious package. (unopened) – Isolate package – Call Capitol Police or local agency – Evacuate immediate area (explosive device)

Suspicious Packages or Letters n If you have a suspicious package. (unopened) – Isolate package – Call Capitol Police or local agency – Evacuate immediate area (explosive device) – Complainant and/or person locating package should stay and make contact with officers.

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letter contains powder or sticky substance.

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letter contains powder or sticky substance. – Isolate contaminated letter, do not move item.

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letter contains powder or sticky substance. – Isolate contaminated letter, do not move item. – Touch little as possible.

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letter contains powder or sticky substance. – Isolate contaminated letter, do not move item. – Touch little as possible. – Evacuate area, notify Police

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letter contains powder or sticky substance. – Isolate contaminated letter, do not move item. – Touch little as possible. – Evacuate area, notify Police – Wash hands, isolate yourself from others in restroom.

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letter contains powder or sticky substance. – Isolate contaminated letter, do not move item. – Touch little as possible. – Evacuate area, notify Police – Wash hands, isolate yourself from others in restroom. – Police Department will notify HAZMAT

Suspicious materials in letters n Opened letters (continued) – All evacuated personnel stay until released by Authorities. We need to get all personnel information from people that were in that area.

Suspicious items n If you believe you have a suspicious item, Please contact the Capitol Police Department at

Suspicious items n If you believe you have a suspicious item, Please contact the Capitol Police Department at n Reminder do not use phone and radio near item.

Suspicious items n If you believe you have a suspicious item, Please contact the Capitol Police Department at n Reminder do not use phone and radio near item. n If you have an questions, please contact Sergeant Blackdeer at or at