News Room November 2, 2001 Hearing on Emergency Preparedness In the Nation's Capital Charles H. Ramsey Chief of Police Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey delivered the following testimony to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, the Honorable Constance A. Morella, Chairwoman. Madame Chair, Congresswoman Norton, other members of the Subcommittee, staff, and guests - I appreciate the opportunity to present this statement concerning emergency preparedness in the District of Columbia from the perspective of local enforcement. As I look back on the horrific and unprecedented events of September 11th, I am very, very proud of how the members and leaders of the Metropolitan Police Department responded. Our members displayed much the same type of determination and agility … bravery and creativity … that were so evident in New York City and northern Virginia on that date. Our members helped to send a reassuring message to the residents, visitors and workers in the District of Columbia that their safety was of paramount importance to us. Allow me to provide a few examples: On the morning of September 11th, our Department quickly recalled all officers and essential civilian personnel, cancelled their days off, and put all of our sworn members in uniform, on 12-hour shifts. Our immediate priority was to ensure that we had all of our personnel resources available and ready to deal with any threats or attacks on DC, while also continuing to patrol our neighborhoods. We met that priority quickly and effectively, I believe. We got our state-of-the-art Joint Command and Control Center up and running immediately after the second World Trade Center attack. In fact, it was already operational before the hijacked plane struck the Pentagon. The center includes both MPD members and personnel from our critical partners in the federal and regional governments, including the FBI, the US Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the State Department, US Marshal's Service, Coast Guard, Amtrak, Metro and others. Having this joint Command Center operational from the earliest moments following the attacks allowed us to access, filter, verify and disseminate critical law enforcement information in the very hectic and confusing moments as these events were unfolding. We have kept the center up and running - at various levels of activation - since September 11th, and we are prepared to ramp it up as needed at a moment's notice. We put officers at critical intersections throughout the city - both to enhance our visibility and to help direct traffic to the extent possible. I think we all recognize the Herculean task the District faced in trying to get that many people out of the city at one time. That we did so, in a safe and mostly orderly manner, is a testament to our police officers and other traffic safety personnel. Our Department sent resources to assist with the Pentagon rescue and recovery efforts - mobile crime officers, search and rescue dogs, and some of our CDU platoons. These members worked long hours, under very grueling conditions, to assist the FBI and local law enforcement authorities. And we continue to assist with the protection of critical federal and local installations here in the District. That our Department carried out these and other missions - while continuing to provide basic policing services in our neighborhoods - is an illustration of our commitment and professionalism. That commitment and professionalism have continued in the weeks following the attacks, as new developments have arisen. I am confident that our Department - working with others in local and federal government - is fully prepared to address any threats our Nation's Capital may face in the future. Page 1 of 2        1   2