Patrolmen appointed to fight terrorism

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Stephen Austin welcomed trooper Kendall Hampton's visit to Austin Ag Aviation.

Hampton wanted to talk to Austin about measures aimed at securing pesticides to avoid misuse or vandalism in light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

"That means that law enforcement is interested," said Austin, a crop-duster in Mississippi County.

Hampton is one of more than 100 members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol assigned additional duties following a Sept. 29 directive from patrol headquarters in Jefferson City, Mo.

"This is an anti-terrorism movement," said Lt. George Ridens of Troop E headquarters at Poplar Bluff. "Thirteen troopers have been assigned to work as terrorism intelligence agents in our district."

These include Hampton, one of two troopers on the task force working in parts of New Madrid, Mississippi and Scott counties, and trooper Richard Pipkin and Cpl. Perry Hazelwood, who are working in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and northern Scott counties.

In recent weeks, the coordinators have been making contact at places considered possible targets, Hazelwood said.

High priority sites include places where crowds gather, such as Southeast Missouri State University, barge lines and other transportation hubs, and places where hazardous materials are commonly used.

Hazelwood said the patrol is working with the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri's liaison for the newly created federal Homeland Security agency to document risks.

So far, the coordinators have been going to sites talking with people responsible for them and requesting that plans be formulated to handle a terrorist threat, Hazelwood said.

Discussions with pilots operating crop-dusting services have gone well, he said.

The FBI discovered that terrorists involved in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington had visited small, rural airfields to obtain information on crop-dusting planes and equipment, said Fred Fishel, director of the University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management program.

The patrol isn't as concerned with agricultural chemicals such as pesticides as it is with devices used to apply the chemicals over wide areas, said Hazelwood.

No evidence of threat

There has been no evidence of terrorist threats in Missouri, but state officials want to assure residents that every precaution is being taken to ensure their safety, he said.

"This includes extra security for a number of state-owned buildings throughout the state" said patrol Capt. Chris Ricks in Jefferson City. "We're beefing up Capitol security."

The plan covers large state office buildings in Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph and Springfield.

As the patrol makes contact with organizations that are considered possible terrorist targets, it is trying to instruct people what kind of activity should be considered suspicious.

"What we want to do is collect information on people and incidents that are suspicious and keep track of them," Hazelwood said.

Hazelwood said he hasn't yet made contact with all the people or groups considered possible targets.

The patrol is also monitoring threats against people of Middle Eastern descent, Hazelwood said. So far, no local incidents have been reported.

rowen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

thall@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 122