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The National Legislative Services and Security Association A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR LEGISLATIVE STAFF SPRING 1998

Bomb Squad Space Crunch Spurs Changes at Capitol Capitol Projects Dole Takes Bow at "His" Courthouse Crawford Has Grounds for His Capitol Ideas Governor Revs Up Sesquecentennial Harley Ride to D.C. Mail Bombs and Other Devices Work Place Violence Region 3 Training Region 4 Training

      Region 1

Bomb squad technicians have a favorite expression: "It's a bomb until it isn't a bomb."

"We also say expect the unexpected," says Sgt. Derek Hanzawa, of the Honolulu Police Department's bomb squad detail. Paying careful attention to this principle can save lives- including their own.

"Preserving life is paramount," says Officer Edward Whitlock, bomb technician. "Property is secondary."

When the HPD bomb squad gets a call reporting a suspected bomb- 80 last year- or a bomb threat, the men are ready for the worst, with 60-pound heavily padded bomb suits and helmets. Their truck carries X-ray and other equipment and a 3-ton steel dome on the top of the truck- which can be used to transport suspected bombs to a suitable area for "render safe" procedures. The men are often assisted by Belgian Malanois dogs, bred and trained for the task of sniffing out the ingredients of a bomb. All these precautions are taken even though half the calls are hoaxes or unfounded scares. A bomb is a bomb until it isn't a bomb.

Just days ago Hanzawa and Whitlock were awakened in the middle of the night- not an unusual event for them- to drive to Ewa Village to investigate a suspicious package. Like half of the 80-plus "bombs" they investigated in 1997, that one proved non-explosive. It's the other 40 that cause them worry.

Expect the unexpected.

The four-man HPD bomb detail- they're also members of the SWAT team- includes Hanzawa, Whitlock, Sgt. Michael Kainoa and Officer Daniel Kaholokula.

"It's a worry to me every time they go out," says Nani Aragon, secretary to HPD's Special Services. "They're like my sons. Every time they go out they put their lives on the line."

Each is married and a father. Hanzawa is also a grandfather.

"All of our spouses are supportive," says Hanzawa. "They know [the risk] is part of the job and we volunteer for this."

Ted "Unabomber" Kaczynski, World Trade Center bomber Ramsi Yosef, Oklahoma City bombers Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, the Atlanta Olympic bomber and many more have triggered a sudden realization that none of us is immune to terrorism.

Could an Oklahoma City incident happen here? Yes, HPD bomb technicians say, although it is unlikely given Hawaii's isolation from politically incendiary locations in the world. But...expect the unexpected.

"It's not a probability but it is always a possibility," Hanzawa says. "Look at Oklahoma City. A truck carrying ammonium nitrate fuel oil was parked right in front of the federal building. Are these materials accessible? Of course. We have to worry not just about homemade bombs but about weapons of mass destruction, and chemical bombs such as the gas used in Tokyo's subways.

"The resources and instructions for making bombs now are virtually limitless. Some materials are restricted but they still get into people's hands."

Whitlock adds that every major incident prompts a dramatic increase in calls and bomb threats: "We got a sudden increase in calls after the Atlanta Olympics."

Consequently, HPD bomb technicians who are FBI-trained, have to keep abreast of global trends and the latest technology in explosives. One problem is the accessibility of materials and information on the street.

Bombers may be madmen, political fanatics, criminals using bombs to extort money or take revenge on someone, disgruntled former employees of companies or disturbed individuals who enjoy the feeling of achievement, power and notoriety they get from making the news, even if they don't flaunt their identity openly.

And according to a 1995 program by the Boston-based television science series NOVA, about 1,000 bombs a year are created by children and teens under 19 years of age, almost all male and experimenting foolishly with dangerous substances.

Nationwide, 13 youngsters reportedly died between 1992 and 1994 from homemade bombs, 91 were injured. Unfortunately, and ironically, one reason so many of these efforts end in tragedy for the manufacturer is that about 87 percent of the clumsy bombs assembled by children and teenagers actually work. They are usually primitive devices that react quickly to heat or friction without sophisticated mechanisms to control them, and sometimes explode while being built.

Over the years, Hawaii has had its share of bombs, bomb threats and scares in schools, airports, airplanes, hotels, supermarkets, government and business offices, courtrooms, shopping centers, residential buildings and at least one television station. The state has even prosecuted a couple of serial bombers, one who planted devices in Waikiki hotels in 1989 and a man known as the Manoa bomber in 1993. Access to explosives around New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Fourth of July triggers extra activity. Some calls involve unexploded military ordnance people dig up in gardens or find in random locations. "We work closely with the military explosive ordnance details," Hanzawa says. "They are more familiar with their own devices and some, even from the World War 1 era, may still be live."

In Hawaii, most bombs found have been simple homemade types, but there is enough activity out there to require the skills of the bomb squad.

"I want to emphasize how

dedicated these gentlemen are," says HPD Special Services commander, Maj. John Kerr. "I am not a bomb expert, but when a situation arises I know I can rely on them to handle it safely and efficiently."

The bomb squad is also dedicated to public awareness. They talk regularly to businesses and groups about how to handle a suspected bomb or bomb threat, how to keep a threatening caller on the telephone, what to listen for, what to look for in suspicious items. They'd like schools, public offices and businesses to have regular bomb drills the way they have fire drills. "There is a distinct difference between bomb threats and actual devices," says Hanzawa. "Most of our calls are bomb threats. That happens almost every day."

"But if a device that could be a bomb is found," says Whitlock, "there are no ifs or buts, you evacuate. At that point it's the bomb technicians' call."

Bomb threats are de rigueur at the University of Hawaii during final-exam weeks. These are usually called in by students trying to postpone an exam they aren't prepared for, and usually turn out to be false alarms, but every call has to be taken seriously.

A bomb is a bomb until it isn't a bomb.

      Region 2

The Capitol Restoration Commission approved a new configuration for the first and fifth floors of the Statehouse on Tuesday that will add more large committee hearing rooms on the ground level but also will evict four news organizations from the building.

The commission, at its first meeting, adopted a proposed arrangement for the Statehouse's first floor that would increase the number of hearing rooms there to seven from the present one.

Bill Groth, the Capitol architect, noted that increasing the number of committee rooms on ground floor will make them more accessible to the public, reduce congestion on upper floors and cut down on the number of people using the building's three present slow-speed elevators.

He said the new committee rooms would increase the space for visitors to 309 seats from 43 in the existing first-floor committee hearing room.

One of the proposed new committee rooms would be located in space occupied by the Statehouse bureaus of the Associated Press, The Topeka-Capital Journal, the Kansas City Star and Harris News Service.

Groth said no replacement space for the four news organizations, which have maintained bureaus in the Capitol for many years, had been identified in the reconfigured building.

It isn't certain when the new configuration for the Statehouse's first floor will be implemented.

Groth outlined projects totaling $1 million that are under way in the Capitol.

Included is a $382,000 project to restore murals on the ceiling of the House of Representatives chamber and also restore pillars and columns to their original decorations; $253,000 to install a fire detection and alarm system; and $120,000 to construct a mall on the south apron of the Statehouse featuring a model of the Kanza Indian figure, the Ad Astra statue, which the Legislature approved for the top of the Capitol dome.

Senate President Dick Bond, R-Overland Park, chairman of the restoration commission, said restoration of the Statehouse "is long term, ongoing long-range effort.

"Some of us will only be able to enjoy the results as civilians. I know I won't be here to see it finished. But it grows on you. Let's just keep on keeping on with it."

Other states with programs to restore their Capitols have spread them over more than a decade.

State law gives the Legislature the power to allocate space in the Statehouse. The Legislature's staff doesn't yet have an estimate for the cost of renovating the Capitol.

TOPEKA- Here is a summary of the "master plan" for Statehouse renovations approved by the Capitol Restoration Commission:

• More meeting rooms: The Legislature would have 14 meeting rooms for committees and subcommittees. It currently has 12.
• New committee locations: Two small committee rooms on the fifth floor and one each on the fourth and second floors would be eliminated. The first floor would have seven meeting rooms, instead of one.
• Expanded Rooms: Two meeting rooms on the fifth floor would be expanded. One is now used by the House Appropriations Committee, the other by several committees.
• More Seating: Committee rooms together would seat more than 650 spectators. Current combined seating is only about 420.
• Budget Division: Its offices would move from the first to second floor.
• Governor's Staff: Some of its offices would be relocated on the second floor.
• Secretary of State: It would have a ceremonial office, but most of the staff would move outside the Capitol.

It's not just any courthouse. It is now the "Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse" at Fifth and State Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

Naming the building after the former U.S. senator from Kansas was made official Friday afternoon before a windblown crowd of about 150 persons.

As a strong wind howled from the West, the attendees heard several speakers praise Dole for his long service in the Congress of the United States; for his role as a state, national and world leader, and for his work in getting Congress to approve federal appropriations to build the eight story, 271,000 square foot courthouse. It was pointed out that that the courthouse was built for $6 million under budget. It opened in 1994.

Dole was there to hear it all, and when it was his turn to speak he received a long standing ovation. He told the crowd, "It's not deserved but it's a great honor." Dole added that, "I've had a sandwich named after me, a balcony, a camera, and this is the first building. So, I guess that means I own it now. Anyone want to buy a courthouse?"

The crowd of dignitaries, including many judges, elected officials and Republican Party bigwigs laughed. "I've probably met most of the people here," Dole told the audience seated on the street outside the front of the courthouse.

Dole, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 until 1996, when he resigned to run for president of the United States, said the court houses symbolizes the "heritage of freedom we have in this country."

Dole said that "it doesn't matter if a person is a Democrat or Republican, or what color he is, when you go into that courthouse you expect justice." Dole called the courthouse "a prudent down payment on the future."

Dole went into a serious discussion about what he called "the threat to our domestic tranquillity." He bemoaned a wave of juvenile crime in the United States today. He said drugs and violence among youth is a major problem across the country.

"Classrooms have become war zones," said Dole. He called for tougher sentences for drug offenders and added that, "We need to appoint judges who are tough on criminals rather than tough on cops." To effectively fight the drug war and keep young people out of trouble, Dole said the entire community must pitch in, including parents, teachers and the clergy.

Dole complimented the newly formed Downtown Business Watch group in KCK that is involved in daytime crime prevention activities. "I understand you folks have done a good job in the downtown area. I congratulate you," he said.

Gov. Bill Graves extolled Dole's career of public service and said "he is undoubtedly the most famous and popular Kansan of my lifetime. Bob Dole has made public service an honorable profession." Graves cited that Dole was raised in the small town of Russell in Western Kansas during the Great Depression and never forgot his roots.

Sen. Sam Brownback, who replaced Dole in the Senate, said it was a dubious distinction because "it would be like following Michael Jordan in the slam dunk contest." Brownback called Dole "one of the greatest legislators in the history of the country." Sen. Pat Roberts said that even in retirement Dole has not stopped working for Kansas and the nation on various projects, including development of a World War II memorial in Washington, DC.

Mayor/CEO Carol Marinovich of the Wyandotte County/KCK Unified Government, thanked Dole for helping the community get the new courthouse; the new Willa Gill Multipurpose Center downtown and the new Environmental Protection Agency building under construction at Fifth and Minnesota Avenue. All the projects were federally funded with Dole leading the way to get appropriations through Congress.

"Thank you Sen. Dole for all that you have done for our community," Marinovich said.

Judge Earl O'Connor, long-time local federal judge, said Dole became "a citizen of the world" during his career. "Today Senator, it's payback time," said O'Connor.

A bronze plaque was unveiled with Dole's likeness on it and some information on his career. The plaque will be placed on the courthouse building in an appropriate spot.

After the ceremony the crowd retired to the Jack Reardon Civic Center for a reception sponsored by the KCK Area Chamber of Commerce.

AUSTIN- A sign on State Preservation Board Executive Director Rick Crawford's desk reads: "It's the crickets, stupid. Prepare for September."

The sign, which Crawford asked a colleague to make, serves as a constant reminder that he needs to be prepared for the next annual invasion of the State Capitol by thousands of crickets.

"Crickets- that's the one thing that can get you in trouble around here," said Crawford, whose agency serves as the property manager for one of the state's best known buildings.

Crawford, a former Texas House member from Amarillo, said he had forgotten about the cricket problem when the preservation board assumed management of the Capitol in September but was soon reminded when calls began coming in from agitated state employees. One worker called to complain that the crickets were hopping in her office window on the third floor of the Capitol, he said.

"Before, I was always yelling at people about crickets in the building. This time, I was the 'yellee'," Crawford said. "I'm going to try to fix that problem in advance this time around."

But fighting crickets is just one of the jobs Crawford tackles as part of his job. "There are problems all the time, but there's never the same problem every day," he said.

Crawford was appointed to head the preservation board in September 1995 as the agency was completing the approximately $184 million restoration and expansion of the Capitol building. While a member of Speaker Pete Laney's staff, Crawford had worked on the renovation plans for the House Chamber and was knowledgeable about much of the restoration effort.

After he went to work for the preservation board, Crawford's first major task was to supervise the refurbishment of the Capitol grounds- a project that cost about $7.7 million in federal, state and private funds. The goal was to return the long-neglected grounds to what they looked like from 1888, when the Capitol was completed, to 1915, when state officials began making significant changes in the landscape.

Before the grounds project was started in March 1996, visitors to the Capitol drove around the building on a street scarred by potholes and walked down broken sidewalks to gaze at monuments in need of repairs.

Those who visit the Capitol today can walk down the checkerboard sidewalk known as the Great Walk that leads to the south entrance of the building. If they stray off the Great Walk, they don't have to fear stumbling on a cracked sidewalk. Other sidewalks and roads on the property have been replaced.

Surrounding the 22-acre site is a wrought iron fence painted black with gold stars. Inside the perimeter fence stand more than a dozen monuments that were restored as part of the project.

During the early stages of the project, Crawford drew criticism for felling about 40 trees, including many that were planted in the 1980's during former Gov. Bill Clements' second administration.

According to Crawford, some people accused him of trying to make the Capitol complex look like Amarillo. But he said it was necessary to remove the trees because an arborist's report indicated that many were diseased or had bacteria in their root system.

"We planted a lot more trees than we took down," he said.

Restoration of the grounds was completed shortly before the legislative session began in January 1997, freeing Crawford to turn his attention to a number of other projects. And the Legislature has made sure that he has more work to do.

Under legislation passed last year, the preservation board is installing more than 700 parking meters on the surrounding streets. The agency also is involved in the construction of state parking garages around the Capitol complex.

"The goal is to ensure that people who come to the Capitol to do business or just to see it will have a place to park," Crawford said.

The board also is involved in planning the Texas State Historical Museum. In their 1997 session, lawmakers authorized $80 million to be spent to build the museum and acquire exhibits.

Crawford said the museum, a pet project of Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, will take one year to plan and two years to build. "I'd like to be through in early 2001," he said.

The preservation board also participated recently in creating a computerized tour of the restored Capitol building.

Ali Turley, the preservation board's assistant curator and the curator of education, said the CD Rom tour enables a computer user to see many areas in the Capitol. The tour provides a 360-degree virtual reality turn around many of the rooms, enabling the tourist to see the furnishings and even the works of art on display, Turley said.

"It's neat for a kid in Amarillo who can't make the 500-mile trip to take the tour at home," Crawford said.

Another project about to be completed has involved restoring and reframing old photographs of former lieutenant governors. Crawford said the photographs are almost ready to be hung in the Senate Chamber.

Crawford said he has "a fun job" but doesn't expect to be in the position forever. He eventually plans to return to Amarillo to work in the real estate business.

"I've never had a goal of being a life-long bureaucrat," Crawford said.

MADISON – Gov. Tommy G. Thompson today issued a statewide and national invitation for Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts to join his Sesquicentennial Harley Ride this June from Madison to Washington, D.C.

Gov. Thomspon will lead a parade of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders charging through six states from June 19-23 on their way to the National Mall in the heart of Washington, D.C. The ride will help kickoff the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which will honor Wisconsin and its 150^th birthday.

"The Sesquicentennial Harley Ride will showcase our state pride and encourage the entire nation to join us in commemorating our 150^th birthday," Gov. Thompson said. "It will be a fun and adventurous ride to celebrate our state's rich heritage and friendly people."

Gov. Thompson will lead the riders out of Madison on June 19 and the tour will stop at the state capitols in Springfield, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; and Columbus, Ohio. The ride will include a visit to the Harley-Davidson plant in York, Pa., to help commemorate the Wisconsin company's 95^th anniversary. The tour will pass through West Virginia and Maryland as well.

The tour will arrive in Washington the evening of June 23, and the next morning, Gov. Thompson will lead the motorcade of Harley riders down Pennsylvania Avenue to the kickoff of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. The festival runs from June 24-28 and July 1-5.

Schneider National Inc., of Green Bay, will be part of the motorcade, carrying materials to the Folklife Festival and displaying a banner announcing Wisconsin's arrival in Washington.

"Our nation's capital will never forget the image of Harleys roaring down Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate Wisconsin's Sesquicentennial," Gov. Thompson said. "We're going to throw the biggest birthday bash Washington's ever seen."

Registration for the ride is $50 and all riders will receive an official Sesquicentennial mini-flag and T-shirt. The American Automobile Association is also providing TripTik publications to assist with travel routes and accommodations to Washington, D.C. Riders are responsible for their own lodging arrangements and expenses. For registration information, call (608) 266-1101.

Created by Gov. Thompson, the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Commission has sanctioned more than 1,000 events and programs for 1998 as part of the celebration. The Commission is co-chaired by Gov. Thompson and former Govs. Lee Sherman Dreyfus and Patrick J. Lucey.

More than 300 Sesquicentennial grant recipients have received funding through anticipated revenues generated by merchandise sales, corporate sponsorships, and the state's most popular special-edition license plate, the Sesquicentennial plate. For more information on Sesquicentennial activities call 1-800-432-TRIP or visit the website at www.150yearsstate.wi.us.

Gov. Thompson has led an annual Harley Ride for the past four years to promote the state, important issues or events, and the fact Wisconsin workers make the world's premier motorcycle.

      Region 3

On May 29, 1998 Region 3 held it's annual training session at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut. The eight NLSSA members in attendance and eleven other legislative employees were given insight into mail bombs and other explosive devices.

The mail bomb training was conducted by United States Postal Inspector Thomas Lambert, Jr. Inspector Lambert explained that the likelyhood of receiving a bomb in the mail is remote. However, Lambert reviewed the unique characteristics which may assist you in identifying a suspect mailing.

The characteristics of suspicious mail include but are not limited to the following:

• Mail bombs may bear restricted endorsements such as "personal" or "private." This factor is important when the addressee does not usually receive personal mail at the office.
• Addressee's name / title may be inaccurate.
• Return address may be fictitious.
• Mail bombs may reflect / distorted handwriting or the name and address may be prepared with homemade label or cut-and-paste lettering.
• Mail bombs may have protruding wires, aluminum foil, or oil stains and may emit a peculiar odor.
• Cancellation or postmark may show a different location than the return address.
• Mail bombs may have excessive postage.
• Letter bombs may feel rigid, or appear uneven or lopsided
• Parcel bombs may be unprofessionally wrapped with several combinations of tape used to secure the package and may be endorsed "Fragile-Handle With Care" or "Rush – Do Not Delay"
• Package bombs may have an irregular shape, soft spots, or bulges
• Package bombs may make a buzzing or ticking noise or a sloshing sound.
• Pressure or resistance may be noted when removing contents from an envelope or parcel.

Several of these characteristics were demonstrated for the group and handouts provided additional resources for the staff on hand.

Lieutenant Harry DeBendet of the Yale University Police Department provided many demonstrations of devices and instructive hands on display sample devices. These demonstrations included a sample mail package with a buzzer device to indicate activation of the device.

Lt. DeBendet had additional personal knowledge of one of the most deadly bombers, unabomber Theodore Kaczynski. One of Kaczynski's victims was a Yale professor, and DeBendet had worked on that case.

The training session ended with a demonstration of the newest in x-ray technology and computer aided display of the suspect device. The first device was just a video but the second device x-rayed was a sample device used in the training class.

All these hand outs can be obtained from your local postal inspector's office or contact Sgt. Bill Morgan at William.Morgan@po.state.ct.us or 860-240-0240.

On March 6, 1998, Matthew Beck, a state lottery employee killed four of his supervisors and then took his own life at the Newington, Connecticut Lottery Headquarters. These killings bring to light the problem of work place violence in Connecticut.

In the days to follow, the Connecticut State Capitol Police and Stamford Connecticut Police arrested another state resident on two separate counts of second degree harassment for obscenity-laced phone messages to one lawmaker and telling another's wife that he was "dodging a bullet.'

These are just some of the reasons why the Connecticut State Capitol Police and their EAP provider Pathways, will be sponsoring four workshops dealing with "Workplace Violence". Dr. Allan Schiffer from Pathways EAP (our EAP provider) will conduct these workshops. Dr. Schiffer's recent presentation on this topic at a CBIA conference was very informative and well received.

This is an important topic and it has been divided into two levels of training. The supervisor's workshop will look at relationships between employees and supervisors and address techniques to minimize tension and hostility in the workplace. The workshops will also address warning signs for potential violence.

The non-supervisor workshops will address techniques for dealing with constituents, as well as fellow workers, who may be experiencing some stress, and will address how our interaction with others may unintentionally increase tension levels.

A number of web sites provide useful information on this subject:

www.opm.gov/gov/workplac/ or www.atr-inc.com/wvs.html

For additional information please feel free to contact Sgt. John Devine, Connecticut State Capitol Police at John.Devine@po.state.ct.us or call 860-240-0240.

      Region 4

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AND SECURITY ASSOCIATION
E-MAIL: kae.warnock@ncsl.org

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