Amber Alerts and BOLOS

[OutPost]

I have to apologize for something I did months ago without considering the consequences. I posted the same post on several threads and got whipped for it. I deserved it !

In any event, I have continued to link RadioReference on our website as the best source for scanner frequencies and have donated funds two times. I have also helped RR with information from my county, of which I am now part of the county's emergency communications system with a brand new Kenwood TK-272G. Lots of stuff in one little radio...

Much has happened since September 2005 and happy to announce that Traffic Alert USA is now a certified Highway Watch station with over 321 volunteers nationwide, among a few are RR contributors and several FCC licensed stations.

I recently received additional training to qualify and train others under Highway Watch. The Department of Homeland Security funds the Highway Watch program and it is administered (in Tennessee) by the Tennessee Trucking Association.

This past week, I discussed with DHS's Intelligence and Analysis Fusion Program Director in Tennessee, Leanne Durham, the need for Amateur Ham Operators, Neighborhood Watch, and others to be included as partners in the Highway Watch program. Since Amber Alerts and area specific BOLOS are now part of the notification system, which Homeland Security receives data and compares the data with other reports coming-in from around the country, stating to her and others that we ALL can play an important role in America's safety network.

The program is slowly closing the door on terrorists and we all can help each other by sharing information that may be suspicious and out of the ordinary.

I am one of about 500 instructors that can qualify your group. If you want the one hour presentation, or you live in another state, I can make arrangements.

Each trained member receives an I.D. card with a DHS (HWW) number that is entered into the national data base. You will be trained on how to "Observe, Assess, and Report."

Current participants in the Highway Watch program are over 265,000 members, of which Tennessee has 10,000....the highest for any state in the nation. Members comprise of transportation professionals, law enforcement, first responders and now I want to include you. I have been given the green light, so contact me at trafficalertcomm@yahoo.com and let me know if you are interested. If you want to know more, visit the Traffic Alert USA website, and click on the Highway Watch link.

This is not SPAM...so please understand this is a call for your service in-order to help America survive the next attack, while thwarting off the ones in between.

Hope to hear from you soon....

Dave Bertrand

 

[nashscan]

A little confusing

It's a little hard to figure out exactly what your organization does. Can you sum it up in a few sentences?

 

[hoser147]

Im interested in joining however I cant get the email portion to come up let me know.I am in Ohio Thanks..................hoser147

 

[OutPost]

Traffic Alert USA's mission: "Saving Lives Through Highway Hazard Avoidance Networking and Professional Driver Notification Alerts."

Highway Watch's mission: "Assists in ensuring the safety and security of the United States by providing a nationwide team of well trained and experienced Transportation Professionals who collectively; observe, assess, report, process, analyze, and respond to items or incidents which might pose a threat."

Together with Highway Watch (HWW); information is shared in both directions. To the drivers from Traffic Alert base stations with anything that involves safety and the safety of the citizens for a particular area, or region, and/or to the HWW Call Center from certified HWW / TA/USA base stations. Examples are presented on the website at www.trafficalertusa.com

Those with scanners that monitor several counties, and are involved with the community can help by alerting the HWW Call Center when something out-of-the-ordinary has occurred.

Law enforcement does not get on the phone to the Call Center (in most instances), therefore, the Call Center would never know that a "man is standing on a critical bridge on the interstate with no vehicles around." Then after 40 minutes, he leaves when a Sheriff's Deputy shows up, saying that, "he was only getting air." Was he casing the bridge, or was it a rehearsal, or was it about to be a terrorist act?

Most likely nothing, but McVeigh parking a Ryder truck in front of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, also looked like nothing.

The information you call in, or from an HWW driver on the interstate, is fed into a computer at the Highway Information Sharing & Analysis Center (ISAC). Every agency in the alphabet at the center reviews the data. If (for instance) 10 other calls from HWW members are received within minutes of your call from around the country about a suspicious individual standing on a critical bridge, the ISAC will go into action. Or....if similar calls come-in from around the country over a period of a week, it can be assumed that our bridges are being cased.

It doesn't have to be a bridge, but the training you receive will show you how and why we need to network together. It's all about communications on every level.

You asked for a summary and got a book...sorry!

Please read both websites about how it all works....

Thank you for your attention,
Dave Bertrand
HWW Instructor/Trainer