ZGram - 7/18/2002 - "US Postal Service Says Nyet to Snitching"

[irimland@zundelsite.org]

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

July 18, 2002

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

Nice item for a change!

[START]

Postal Service Won't Join TIPS Program
Email this Story

Jul 17, 3:57 PM (ET)

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Postal Service has decided not to take part in 
a government program touted as a tip service for authorities 
concerned with terrorism, but which is being assailed as a scheme to 
cast ordinary Americans as "peeping Toms."

"The Postal Service had been approached by homeland security 
regarding Operation TIPS; however, it was decided that the Postal 
Service and its letter carriers would not be participating in the 
program at this time," the agency said in a statement issued 
Wednesday.

The project is promoted by the Justice Department as a means for 
workers whose jobs bring them in contact with neighborhoods, highways 
and businesses to report suspicious activities.

But it has drawn the wrath of the American Civil Liberties Union, 
which charged it would result in Americans spying on one another.

Attorney General John Ashcroft's spokeswoman said that the program, 
still in the development stage, would set up people to spy upon one 
another in their homes and communities.

Barbara Comstock said the agency had no intention for people - such 
as utility workers - to enter or have access to the homes of 
individuals. The idea is to organize information from people whose 
jobs take them through neighborhoods, along the coasts and highways 
and on public transit, she said.

Said Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge: "The last thing we want is 
Americans spying on Americans. That's just not what the president is 
all about, and not what the TIPS program is all about."

The ACLU said the concept was worrisome, nonetheless.

"The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will 
turn local cable or gas or electrical technicians into 
government-sanctioned Peeping Toms," said Rachel King, an ACLU 
legislative counsel.

The ACLU said it was concerned that these volunteers would, in 
effect, be searching people's homes without warrants, that resources 
would be wasted on a flood of useless tips and that the program would 
encourage vigilantism and racial profiling.

It would provide a central reporting point for reports of unusual but 
non-emergency situations. Among those involved in the voluntary 
program could be truckers, mail carriers, train conductors, ship 
captains, utility employees and others.

On Tuesday the Postal Service said it had held preliminary 
discussions with homeland security officials on the project but had 
not make a final decision.

That decision came Wednesday with the announcement the agency would 
opt out, at least for now. Officials did not elaborate on the 
decision.

"It is important to note, however, that the Postal Service has 
established processes for our postal employees nationwide to report 
suspicious activity to the Postal Inspection Service and to local 
authorities," the agency pointed out.

Ridge told radio reporters that people in certain occupations are 
ideal observers. "They might pick up a break in the certain rhythm or 
pattern of a community. They may pick up in the course of their daily 
business something that's very unusual."

He noted that the program is voluntary.

"There's a big difference being vigilant and being a vigilante. We 
just want people to use their common sense," Ridge said. "It is not a 
government intrusion. The president just wants people to be alert and 
aware. ... We're not asking for people to spy on people."

Operation TIPS is a part of the Citizen Corps, an initiative 
announced by President Bush in his State of the Union address.

---

On the Net:

Operation TIPS: http://www.citizencorps.gov/tips.html

American Civil Liberties Union: http://www.aclu.org/

[END]