So far this year, Colorado law enforcement has received 372 reports from residents who believed a crime was about to occur or thought someone was acting strange, and 300 of those tips proved reliable enough to launch an investigation.
Tips ranging from where to find a methamphetamine lab to kids amassing weapons and bomb-making equipment right under their parents’ noses have been received by agents from the Colorado Information Analysis Center — a reporting program funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“We treat everything that comes in as serious,” said Sgt. Steve J. Garcia of the Colorado State Patrol’s Homeland Security Section. “We run the information into the ground to make sure.”
Last week’s fatal shootings at religious organizations in Colorado, for instance, may have been prevented if someone had notified CIAC much earlier about the disturbing things Matthew Murray was writing about religion and Christians.
CIAC, which launched as a multiagency investigative center in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has a website and a phone number where people can leave information about their concerns and details about the person they are worried about.
Eight investigators from police and federal agencies throughout the state work full time for CIAC. The number of employees will double in January because of an increase in Homeland Security funds, and the hours that the center is staffed will increase.
Tipsters are encouraged to attach photographs or Web-page snapshots to their complaints.
Within 24 hours of receiving a complaint, a detective is required to contact a tipster to determine whether an investigation is necessary.
Investigators with CIAC also work on tips received by the Safe2Tell hotline, a place where students leave tips about suspicious activity on campuses throughout the state.
Safe2Tell launched after the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School because there was a need for a place where students could report their concerns anonymously.
Safe2Tell’s hotline is credited with preventing several school attacks, suicides and inappropriate relationships between educators and students.
CIAC analysts can’t say for sure that they have thwarted a significant crime, because sometimes all it takes is a visit from a police officer to change the mind of someone planning an attack.
While Murray never posted on blogs what he was planning against New Life Church in Colorado Springs or Youth With a Mission in Arvada, a tip could have sent an investigator who works for CIAC to his home to talk with him.
But unless a complaint is made, there’s not much police can do to stop an incident.
“We don’t have 100 people all day long looking at blogs to make sure we are safe,” Garcia said. “We don’t go around to MySpace and go around reading websites.”
And there’s nothing illegal about ranting against a church or an organization.
“There are people who own websites that show hatred for the government, but they are legally within their rights to do that,” said Special Agent Rene A. Vonder Haar, spokeswoman for the Denver office of the FBI. “I read some of the (Murray) postings. I did not see them as an overt threat.”
Signs that a shooting or an act of terrorism could occur are always there, but law enforcement has to rely on the public for help, said Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Safety.
“Somebody knew something,” he said. “There are enough signs that exist and enough people in this guy’s life who knew he was troubled.”
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
To report a tip WARNING: Center relies on tips from residents to stop trouble
Colorado Information Analysis Center: or 720-852-6705
Safe2Tell hotline: 877-542-SAFE (7233) or
