Faith

This Is How the LAPD Modified Its Surveillance Program Following Muslims’ Complaints

LAPD Modifies SAR Surveillance Program After Muslim ComplaintsOver the past few months surveillance programs intended to monitor Islamic communities have come under fire. The Blaze has reported extensively on the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) controversial initiative that drew the ire of critics who feel it goes too far. Now, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), after lobbying from Muslim and Sikh leaders, is modifying the way in which it collects data — specifically when it comes to reporting and examining suspicious activities.

According to Religion News Service, since 2008 the LAPD has been using the federal Suspicious Activities Reporting (SAR) program to log reports about potential terrorist actions. It’s important to note that the mere action of taking pictures of a building could spawn a report (after all, image gathering is, indeed, a part of the process that some terrorists engage in to better analyze their targets). SCPR.org has more:

The Muslim Public Affairs Council says it‘s reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Police Department to prevent civil liberties violations under the city’s Suspicious Activity Reporting program. SAR was developed in Los Angeles as a way to help prevent terrorist attacks, and has been replicated nationally in a number of cities.

The idea behind the program is that police often receive reports of strange behavior, but don’t generally follow up unless a specific crime has been committed. The SAR program essentaily empowers police to act on things that may not be obviously criminal and shares such reports with a network of federal and local agencies.

The problem with the program, civil liberties advocates have said, is that innocuous activities — like taking pictures of an airplane, pointing binoculars at a bridge or praying in a parking lot — can look suspicious. And, they point out, when it comes to Muslim Americans, officers and civilians alike may be more likely to find normal behavior suspect.

LAPD Modifies SAR Surveillance Program After Muslim Complaints

A screen shot from the Muslim Public Affairs Council web site

So, here’s how the program is changing. Rather than holding data that is later deemed to represent harmless activity, this information will be removed from the SAR files and from counterterrorism databases. This is to say that authorities will not harbor information that is not in some way explicitly attributed to or connected with troubling behavior or terroristic inclination.

The effort being made here is clearly being undertaken to try and find a middle-ground that doesn’t leave Muslims feeling as though they are a direct target of the LAPD and other related authorities. Rather than holding onto non-criminal behavior, law enforcement officials will potentially provide some ease to those in Islamic communities who have felt uncomfortable with current record-keeping procedures.

SCPR.org continues with all of the agreed-to changes:

  • Any reporting of incidents by law enforcement on individuals or groups must be connected to criminal activity.
  • Any surveillance must have a nexus to terrorism.
  • Any report that does not meet that standard will be purged from any intelligence gathering mechanism within LAPD.
  • The Inspector General of LAPD, who is appointed by a civilian board of commissioners and is independent from LAPD, will audit the SAR program and will make the audit available for public review.
  • LAPD will include a means to track racial bias within the SAR reports to determine if there is any ethnic profiling within the program.

“We’re removing noncriminal behavior from SAR reporting, and data on innocuous behavior is being purged,” Muslim Public Affairs Council President Salam Al-Marayati said in an interview with RNS. ”The community engagement model can work; it’s more effective. The mosques have rejected the al-Qaida ideology of death — that‘s why it’s even more important for law enforcement to partner with the mosques.”

In an effort to ease any worries, Cmdr. Blake Chow, who serves with the LAPD’s counterterrorism bureau, cited these changes as an example of authorities’ efforts to reach out to the Muslim community. Chow pledges that, following the changes, the SAR program will be as robust and effective as always.

(H/T: Religion News Service)

Comments (35)

  • burnbabylon
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:54pm

    Short Attention-Span Intel.
    Give me an I
    I
    Give me a D
    D
    Give me an I
    I
    Give me an O
    O
    Give me a T
    T
    Give me an S
    S
    What does it spell?
    OTS?
    WHAT does it spell?
    TS?
    WHAT DOES IT SPELL?
    S?
    What the he!! is wrong with you?
    We’re not allowed to remember back any further because those letters did not connect to any words except I, ID, IDI, and DIO.

    Before 9/11/2001 various intelligence agencies were not allowed to share intel. This is the same thing. The barrear is between days instead of departments.

    “Chow pledges that, following the changes, the SAR program will be as robust and effective as always.”
    Does that mean that it’s been worthless until now?

    Report Post »  
  • justsaying56
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:12pm

    we the people need to make the difference,watch your town, keep aware, we know who they are!!! we know who to watch!!! if we let our guard down, it will be like the childs saying WE ALL FALL DOWN! this is our nation, we the people must protect it if the law won’t, use the phone call in,every single time something suspicious happens, STAND!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • mekusmilkdud
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 5:31pm

    This is great reading pass it on http://frontpagemag.com/2012/05/22/obamas-chicago-hate-group-connection/
    The Nation of Islam, one of the country’s oldest hate groups, has an ugly fratricidal history. Along with its violent attacks on those outside its circle of race and religion, fueled by a belief that white people are subhumans created by a black mad scientist, it has carried on an equally violent campaign against its own. The list of Nation of Islam dissidents murdered or assaulted by their own people stretches back nearly eighty years. Despite the call to racial solidarity, there is little unity even within the ranks of the Nation of Islam, whose management often resembles that of a gang, rather than a religious group.

    Report Post »  
  • BellaMia7
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:51pm

    After the next terror even there will be a string of neighbors and witnesses to events that were reported but purged because the “dots” had not yet been connected. Why does the LAPD agree to this? Where is the real pressure coming from?

    Report Post » BellaMia7  
  • liberty1
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:44pm

    shoot first ask questions later!

    Report Post » liberty1  
  • Attila_the_Hunney
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 3:16pm

    islam is based on lies and deception. False god,false prophet, false book written while under the influence of heaven knows what. They are TAUGHT to lie, misrepresent and deceive. islam is INCOMPATIBLE with the West, and we need to relocate all of them(back to the sand dunes of the middle east) as soon as possible.

    Report Post »  
  • Larry E
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:55pm

    The cops got to be protecting us from the REAL problems in this country. You know Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodists, Mormons, other Christian denominations, and those pesky Jews. Never mind Mslms they’ve never caused any problems, just move along!

    Report Post »  
    • Thevoice
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 3:33pm

      Love the (sarcasm) . I Hear you… What’s left anymore..So here goes some more..Speaking myself as a old school lutheran.. O yea …Now were for sure a bunch of suspects ..That need special TSA inspection..Or Homeland security watching..Especially with that radical belief of Farther, Son, and Holy ghost …And a special plug to our “Fearless” leader Martin Luther ..Who brought the really radical idea of the individual having a direct connection to their savior Jesus Christ…And the idea that the word of God should be shared amongst all men. Not just the church elite …So thanks again Martin Luther and Gutenberg (the printing press) for getting copies of the bible out to the masses..Very radical buch we are …

      Report Post » Thevoice  
    • mekusmilkdud
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 5:24pm

      Obey Obama, comrades, or pay the price!

      But don’t worry. I‘m writing this very softly so Obama can’t hear. Because just between you and me, I want to ask: If Obama is pushing out our best and brightest entrepreneurs to distant shores, who’s he pulling in?

      Well, here’s an interesting fact: a new survey reveals that the number of Muslims in the U.S. has soared 67% since the 9/11 attacks. Thanks to our State Department’s massive importation of Muslim immigrants, Islam is now the fastest growing religion in America, up from 1 million in 2000 to 2.6 million today.

      What could possibly go wrong? Don’t you trust the State Department to sift out wretched refuse like the Times Square bomber, and the convicted plotters against Fort Dix, the New York subway system, and JFK airport?

      Driving out wealth creators and importing potential destroyers may seem like national suicide, but it’s a winning formula for mansion-dwelling, Marxist politicians. Just ask François (“3 Homes on the Riviera”) Hollande, who catapulted into the French presidency by garnishing 93% of the Muslim vote.

      Now France’s successful citizens are stampeding out the door, desperate to get to England, Israel, or anywhere outside his sticky clutches. And that means more votes for François next time around!

      Meanwhile, back in the former land of the free, Obama plays the same cynical game, intimidating and threatening opponents, so that even a frightened mother in the supermarket feels like

      Report Post »  
  • CatholicConservative
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:09pm

    As an “intel” person, I’m disturbed by this. This is about data collection AND data retention. Intel analysis is a process: law enforcement gets a tip or report of suspicious activity, the information is collected, put into a database, and analyzed to see if it is indeed an indicator of criminal activity, turning it into intelligence. That intel builds your criminal investigation by linking actors and actions together. The process could take months, especially for terrorist investigations. This type of “intel case” is different from an “operational” investigation, but is perfectly legal so long as the investigation is actively gathering information and turning it into intel. It is irresponsible of Law Enforcement to purge that information before the analysis is complete.

    This new modification says “any reporting of incidents by law enforcement on individuals or groups must be connected to criminal activity” and “must have a nexus to terrorism.” So, the LAPD cannot conduct intel investigations and cannot add reports to SAR. Furthermore, any info that has yet to be analyzed and turned into intel will be purged from the SAR database. In the name of protecting against civil liberties violations, the subjects of intel investigations are telling the LAPD they can’t conduct intel investigations AND they must purge the data they have already put into a federal database. Ironically, the sharing of these reports is the connect-the-dots capability the public deman

    Report Post » CatholicConservative  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:36pm

    MASH (the Liberal AntiWar Movie & TV Show): ‘…Suicide is Painless…’!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • zoro51
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:31pm

    screw MURDERING MUSLUMS they brought thisw upn them selves.. its not a peaceful religion but a man made CULT of hate n death. keep monitoring muslums.. n youll find murderers n terroists alike screw the complaints. IF they didnt BOMB the world trade center n the pentagon n tried to blow up other things they wouldnt be looked at so carefully.. SINCE they did blow up n MURDER.. they are to be watched n monitored.. as any PERP would be

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • pap pap
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:30pm

    I hope their plan works out but I’m glad to not be living near there because I doubt that it will work out.

    Report Post »  
  • chubby
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:17pm

    When LAPD is holding their behinds in their hands because of this change in policy brought on by a self serving group. Hope they don’t come crying for more help.

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 12:07pm

    So any band of radical Islamists are immune to being monitored; yet the average citizen of the land is to be under constant Big Sister footage and domination/oppresion? How long until the drones are armed to the teeth and shoot at the people in the streets?

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Thevoice
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:51pm

      Well what we see today is the result of placing your principles and god given use of common sense on the side after a decapitation strike on your country, from a enemy clothed in the uniform of a religion.. First strong leadership would have united the country on a common purpose to destroy the enemy at all costs… Then sent the enemy one clear message, and had backed it up.Next when you see our armies wave a white flag of surrender or stand and die for your misguided beliefs..Then had given the total power and control of our armed services to completely destroyed to surrender and victory all that opposed us.To the men who’s job it was.Not to coddle or bring good will but to remove the evil and destroy it. We as a nation went right down the road of self destruction and sadly used the sin of self gratification as a appeaser to the slow loss of freedom and liberties implemented to do what. and. keep us safe from whom…That weakness lead directly to even bigger weakness and a nation willing to accept fundamental transformation of its soul…There is were you are today..Except the enemy is now at the point were it is a few steps towards one of its goals the creation of a great and powerful Islamic nation..And our fundamental transformer of a leader actually aids and comforts the enemy that wants to destroy us…O…You better believe.. where this is going to end up isn’t good at all .I always joke.There are no names today like Patton or Montgomery to remove this evil today.

      Report Post » Thevoice  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:59am

    — can look suspicious. And, they point out, when it comes to Muslim Americans, officers and civilians alike may be more likely to find normal behavior suspect. << And what exactly happens if these activities are IN FACT suspicious?

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:56am

    The problem stems from Islamic leaders preaching non-cooperation. You do not see anyone else preaching non-cooperation! Why are they being rewarded?
    If the general consensus was cooperation and vigilance by Muslims (just like everyone else), they would not have this problem!

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • WizzOzz
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:45am

    “innocuous activities — like taking pictures of an airplane, pointing binoculars at a bridge or praying in a parking lot — can look suspicious”

    Well – no Crap!!! How many people do you know that does these things on a daily basis!!!! Are you kidding me??? Law enforcement NEEDS TO PROFILE this type of activity… Unbelievable

    Sheriff JOE for President – this crap would cease immediately. Americans are turning into a bunch of wimps….

    Report Post » WizzOzz  
    • WizzOzz
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:53am

      oops – that DO these things….. sorry I was on a rant

      Report Post » WizzOzz  
  • brandonvphoto
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:32am

    Perfect. So under there rules how many of the 9/11 Murderers would we have caught?

    Report Post » brandonvphoto  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:49am

      The same as the old rules….none.

      Report Post » riseandshine  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 1:18pm

      most of the terrorists caught post 9/11 have been brought down by ordinary citizens, not the police. The ones the FBI have taken down all have one thing in common, the FBI was the instigator of the plot. TSA has not stopped on single incident. The added pain at the border coming through Canada has not caught one single terrorist. Our rights have been taken and we are not made safer by any of it.
      The only change to law that should have been passed is one requiring every citizen to be armed and trained for defense.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • affinity
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:25am

    If we change our immigration policies to say “No Muslims Allowed” we wouldn’t need to them.monitor them in the first place.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:34am

      Agreed! I do not invite Insane people over to my House… nor Perverts over to Baby Sit!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:24am

    The muslims are a 5th column in this country. It is not going to be long before they begin their jihad here in the states. We were extremely stupid for letting them immigrate and now …obama is quietly but surely letting them in by the thousands. When you are hunkered down exchanging shots with Jihadists…thank obama.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:37am

      Thank… the Democrats, Unions, all Socialists & Progressives… being most of the Presidents since TR!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • possom
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:02am

    I‘d trust a crackhead with my creditcard before I’d trust a muslim, thank god pc is over.

    Report Post » possom  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 10:59am

    Many Muslims are taught to lie and to cheat their enemies in order to blend in and eventually overtake land and spread Islam by fire or sword…..This is a front operation to appease the Muslim groups…Hey Mr. Mosque…We, The People are still watching your every move…this next statement alone may come back to haunt us…

    “The mosques have rejected the al-Qaida ideology of death — that‘s why it’s even more important for law enforcement to partner with the mosques.”….We will see, We will see…

    Report Post » Mark0331  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on May 22, 2012 at 10:58am

    Foot in the door.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  

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