Response To Threat Against Police: 'Do Not Let Your Pride Make You A Target'
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - A threatening phone call to Aurora police combined with a startling trend of ambush attacks on law enforcement across the country has numerous safety response agencies concerned.
The threatening call was placed to 911 dispatch on Sunday, just days after an Illinois police officer was shot to death outside Chicago. The caller stated the following: "It's time that you guys know we are no longer playing around with the police departments. Aurora and Denver we are about to start striking fear shooting down all cops that we see by their selves (sic). This will go for the Sheriff's Department. You guys are evicting innocent people. Let us catch you by ya'll (phonetic) self and it's shots fired."
LINK: Listen To The Threatening Call
The latest alert was sent to members of the National Association for Search and Rescue. In the warning posted online, NASAR advised rescue crews to proceed with caution and cover their uniform with a "civilian blouse or top" when going to or from a scene. It also suggests members take down all identifying search and rescue stickers or magnets on their vehicles.
"A hostile individual could easily use this style of vehicle labeling as an excuse for violence against a SAR (search and rescue) volunteer since we are sometimes indistinguishable from a law enforcement or other agency responder," the alert reads. "Do not let your pride make you a target of opportunity."
The alert also advised search and rescue crews to not train alone, be aware of their surroundings and watch out for each other.
Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz echoed that advice to his department.
"We're in a time right now in our country … we can't not take these kinds of threats seriously," Metz told CBS4's Rick Sallinger. "We have to make sure we're very diligent in making sure that not only is the community aware of what's going, but that our officers are reminded about how to do their job safe and to make sure that they're watching out for each other out there."
A similar message from Denver Police Chief Robert White was sent to his department in an email Tuesday afternoon. CBS4 obtained a copy of the email which stated White is not taking the matter lightly.
LINKS: Letter To Officers About Threat From Denver Police Chief Robert White | Letter To Officers About Threat From Denver's Manager Of Safety | Aurora Police Association News Release: Threats To Police
"You are tasked with doing a potentially dangerous job every day," White wrote to his department. "And while the vast majority of our community supports and respects officers, we need to remain vigilant and exercise caution against those individuals who intend to harm us."
White also urged officers to be extra careful while in uniform and to be mindful of their safety as well as their fellow officers on and off duty. He added that this recent threat and others are being thoroughly investigated and addressed.
In addition, the Colorado Information Analysis Center sent a warning to law enforcement officers statewide. That alert went out to more than 4,000 people and agencies.
Additional Information From The Aurora Police Department
Anyone with information can remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. Call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
