6 years ago
9 News reporter, Dave Statter has learned that a flag from the Washington Monument was lowered from its pole and taken despite the fact that four United States Park Police officers were on duty guarding the monument.
Sources say the removal of the flag was part of an internal test of security by the Park Police last fall. That test came about a month after the Interior Department's Inspector General found a similar failure of security as reported in Tuesday morning's Washington Post.
Dave Statter reports, the Post's account of an officer sleeping on the job may not be exactly what it seems.
Wednesday morning the Post?s Reliable Source column will publish part two of findings by the Interior Department's Inspector General, of a test of Washington Monument security last September 11th.
During the test instead of the four U.S. Park Police officers mandated to be on guard at the monument at all times the Post?s Richard Lieby wrote that the Department?s Inspector General found that no U.S. Park police could be seen on patrol except for one officer in an unmarked car who appeared to be sound asleep.
Park Police Union President Jim Austin confirms what 9 news first reported Tuesday morning; that an internal U.S. Park Police probe following the Inspector General?s report discovered that the officer was officially off duty at the time the Inspector General?s office claimed the picture was taken. Sources say the officer had just finished one long shift and had a few moments before his next shift.
Visitors to the monument on Tuesday were surprised about the other findings of the Inspector General original report; that U.S. Park Police failed to check out a black plastic bag placed at two different spots at the base of the monument. A bag that could have contained a dirty bomb or other weapon of mass destruction
The internal Park Police probe according to sources determined that at the time of the Inspector General?s visit two officers had left the monument to handle an incident at the nearby Sylvan Theater. Since then rules have been tightened keeping four uniformed officers at the monument at all times.
This staffing situation was one of the issues that U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers talked publicly about and had resulted in her suspension and charges that could lead to her firing.
U.S. Park Police say there was further tightening of security at the monuments after the October test where the flag was removed.
To view Dave Statter?s full report, click ?Dave Statter Reporting.?
Written by 9 News
