October 16, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Shreveport Fire Department Safety Bulletin

How to Handle Possible Threats in the Officer or Home

Following several instances where home or business owners have contacted 911 because of a suspicious envelop, package or substance, the Shreveport Fire Department is issuing information to help citizens determine their risk level and whether or not to contact 911. The good news is, all incidents prior to today that the fire department has received test back from have been unfounded. The Shreveport Fire Department has plans to deal with these threats quickly and efficiently.

If an unknown substance found in office or workplace, before calling 911 ask the following questions:

• What could the substance possible be that we use and have on our premisses?

• Could someone have accidently spilled a substance, ie. coffee creamer, powdered sugar, etc.?

• Attempt to speak to everyone who has access to area where product found and determine if accident and if substance known.

The Shreveport Fire Department wants business managers and owners to take all due precautions regarding the safety of their employees. Additionally, managers and owners should meet with their employees to mitigate those circumstances that may lead to a false 911 call or hoax. Persons found to have perpetrated a hoax will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Mail screening process: All citizens should maintain an awareness of the possibility of substance containing letters:

• No return address

• Hand written or poorly typed addresses

• Misspelling of common words

• Restrictive markings such as "confidential" or :personal," etc.

To minimize potential threats, the Shreveport Fire Department also wants citizens to realize that there is a great deal of mail delivered to addresses everyday that is not necessary to open and can be simply disregarded, such as unsolicited advertisements.