Who:
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton; Mr. John Miller, Commanding Officer, Critical Incident Management Bureau; Chief George Gascon, Chief of Operations

What:
News Conference

When:
Sunday, December 21, 2003, at 2:45 p.m.

Where:
Parker Center, 150 N. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles

Los Angeles: In response to the Federal Government’s decision to raise the National Threat Alert Level from "Elevated" (Yellow) to "High" (Orange), the Los Angeles Police Department, today at 1:30 p.m., increased the Department’s threat alert level from Level 3 to Level 4. The Department will remain at Level 4 until further notice.

Effective immediately, the following changes in Department operations are in effect:

The Los Angeles Police Department is on Modified Tactical Alert.

The Department Operations Center (DOC) has been activated.

The Department’s Intelligence Control Center (ICC) has been activated.

Geographic Areas will provide extra patrol to critical locations identified in their Single Purpose Terrorism Response Plans, approximately 650 sites have been identified.

All Department personnel shall remain alert for potential terrorism-related activities and immediately forward any information to the ICC.

It is important to note that no specific threat of terrorism has been made toward the City of Los Angeles. However, the LAPD is encouraging all residents to be vigilant and alert as they go about their day-to-day activities. Any suspicious activity should be reported to the LAPD’s Terrorism Tip Hotline at 1-877-A-THREAT (1-877-284-7328). For further information contact LAPD

Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

This news advisory release was prepared by Officer Lucy Diaz, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.