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American Morning
Interview with Charles Moose
Aired October 09, 2002 - 08:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators are now focusing on what may be a calling card from the sniper who has been terrorizing the Washington area. The killer has slain six people, wounded two others in the last week. Victims have been struck at random in two Maryland counties, Virginia and Washington. The latest victim is a 13-year-old boy who remains in critical condition after being gunned down Monday, just as he was being dropped off at school.
Here to update us on the investigation, Chief Charles Moose, of the Montgomery County Police Department.
Welcome back, Chief.
We know how busy you are. Thanks for taking a little time out for us this morning.
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Yes, ma'am.
ZAHN: I know, Chief, in your briefing that you just held about an hour ago, you talked about how you are not authorized to say anything more about this tarot card. But what was quite clear to any of us listening to the news conference, you seemed to be outraged that the public even knew about this. Was this a leak?
MOOSE: Yes, ma'am, I want to make it clear that nothing about this has been authorized to be released by me. I'm very concerned. I want to spend, certainly, the proper time with my team. We want to be very clear that this investigation should not be comprised. People's safety is at stake here.
ZAHN: So basically what you're saying, this information was leaked and you obviously think it's hurting your investigation?
MOOSE: Well, certainly what I want to be clear is that there are a lot of things that are occurring that have the potential to hurt the investigation. And my job is to try to negate that and, you know, I want to work very hard at that. I want to make sure people have enough information so that they also are not doing anything to hurt the investigation. It is a tremendous undertaking.
ZAHN: Chief, you came down pretty hard on the folks we've seen on television analyzing this case, many of them former law enforcement officials. And at one point you said if they are putting the lives of people at risk, shame on you. Do you feel that those folks on TV are compromising your investigation?
MOOSE: What I was trying to make sure is that we all think about what we're doing, that there be some kind of rational dialogue, that, yes, I feel like the retired law enforcement people, they have not been privy to the details or any of the information of the case quite specifically. And it is inappropriate. They may be doing things to cause people to think that that is the real answer. They may be doing things to incite someone.
I think they're totally out of line. But I also know that people in the media have some responsibility, also, because they are making the air time available. So it is not just simply the individuals that are talking. There is some responsibility at several levels here and I want to encourage people to realize that we have people living here, people with children here, and just be thoughtful before you do anything to compromise this investigation, to slow us down.
We have the very best that the federal government has to offer. We have the very best at this agency and many agencies in this area. We have the best from MPD in Washington, D.C. We have the best from Prince George's County, Montgomery County. We are trying and we are working very hard.
But, again, if someone or the industry causes us a problem here, we'll continue. We'll get through it. We'll find a way around it. But if that takes energy and distracts us from our focus, it may slow us down.
ZAHN: I think those of us watching you thought that you made pretty clear that you thought Channel 9, WUSA, had in some way crossed the line. What have they done wrong?
MOOSE: Well, ma'am, I was just trying to make sure that -- my question is to the community, if you want Channel 9, if you want the "Washington Post," if you want CNN to conduct this investigation, let me know. I've been told by the people that live in Montgomery County that they want the Montgomery County Police Department to do this investigation. They're very pleased that we've reached out to the best that the federal government has to offer. They're pleased that we've reached out to MPD, that we've reached out to Prince George's County.
But, again, if we want the media to do it, I'd like to know that and we will address what we didn't do with our resources. But I feel like the people that live here want us to do it. They seem to feel like it is their job to do, so they've got to put this information out there. They've got to make phone calls, have investigations, interview people. I think it's totally inappropriate.
ZAHN: In defense of the...
MOOSE: But the public needs to let us know.
ZAHN: In defense of the media, sir -- and certainly I can't answer to all of the reporting that's been on the air -- is the fact that we have the same balancing act that you face every day, where you want to inform the public and not compromise your investigation. And Clint Van Zandt, a former FBI profiler, just reacted to your news conference. He said look, I live in the same community. The last thing I'm going to do is putting information on the air that is going to make anybody more vulnerable. And he said that he thinks that the qualified people have been very careful to put generic information on the air.
I mean have they helped you at all?
MOOSE: Ma'am, I won't even respond to anything that gentleman has to say.
ZAHN: So it's personal? Is there something he has said on our air...
MOOSE: It's not personal, ma'am. I have so little respect for what he has to say that I have nothing to say when you qualify the question that it's coming from him. Please, you know? Let me deal with my job. You know, it has nothing to do with him.
ZAHN: All right, sir, just to...
MOOSE: I wouldn't give him that credence.
ZAHN: OK. We will let him respond to that at a later time.
Just a final thought on where exactly you are in the investigation with the release of this latest information about the tarot card. Are you any closer to getting the perpetrator of this crime?
MOOSE: I remain very hopeful that we are closer. We will certainly have to try to evaluate the impact of all of the energy that is going into conversation about the card.
ZAHN: Well, we wish you continued luck and hope that the reporting we've done here has actually enhanced your investigation and not hurt you.
Thank you, sir, for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
MOOSE: Well, ma'am, I hope so. I think there's a way for that to happen. But we'd like to work with you and so let's remain upbeat.
ZAHN: And when you say with you, you're talking about the media at large, local media, local newspapers and all the television stations as well?
MOOSE: Yes, ma'am.
ZAHN: Thank you, sir.
MOOSE: We know the advantages of that.
ZAHN: Terrific.
Thank you, sir.
Appreciate your time. Good luck.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 9, 2002 - 08:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators are now focusing on what may be a calling card from the sniper who has been terrorizing the Washington area. The killer has slain six people, wounded two others in the last week. Victims have been struck at random in two Maryland counties, Virginia and Washington. The latest victim is a 13-year-old boy who remains in critical condition after being gunned down Monday, just as he was being dropped off at school.
Here to update us on the investigation, Chief Charles Moose, of the Montgomery County Police Department.
Welcome back, Chief.
We know how busy you are. Thanks for taking a little time out for us this morning.
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Yes, ma'am.
ZAHN: I know, Chief, in your briefing that you just held about an hour ago, you talked about how you are not authorized to say anything more about this tarot card. But what was quite clear to any of us listening to the news conference, you seemed to be outraged that the public even knew about this. Was this a leak?
MOOSE: Yes, ma'am, I want to make it clear that nothing about this has been authorized to be released by me. I'm very concerned. I want to spend, certainly, the proper time with my team. We want to be very clear that this investigation should not be comprised. People's safety is at stake here.
ZAHN: So basically what you're saying, this information was leaked and you obviously think it's hurting your investigation?
MOOSE: Well, certainly what I want to be clear is that there are a lot of things that are occurring that have the potential to hurt the investigation. And my job is to try to negate that and, you know, I want to work very hard at that. I want to make sure people have enough information so that they also are not doing anything to hurt the investigation. It is a tremendous undertaking.
ZAHN: Chief, you came down pretty hard on the folks we've seen on television analyzing this case, many of them former law enforcement officials. And at one point you said if they are putting the lives of people at risk, shame on you. Do you feel that those folks on TV are compromising your investigation?
MOOSE: What I was trying to make sure is that we all think about what we're doing, that there be some kind of rational dialogue, that, yes, I feel like the retired law enforcement people, they have not been privy to the details or any of the information of the case quite specifically. And it is inappropriate. They may be doing things to cause people to think that that is the real answer. They may be doing things to incite someone.
I think they're totally out of line. But I also know that people in the media have some responsibility, also, because they are making the air time available. So it is not just simply the individuals that are talking. There is some responsibility at several levels here and I want to encourage people to realize that we have people living here, people with children here, and just be thoughtful before you do anything to compromise this investigation, to slow us down.
We have the very best that the federal government has to offer. We have the very best at this agency and many agencies in this area. We have the best from MPD in Washington, D.C. We have the best from Prince George's County, Montgomery County. We are trying and we are working very hard.
But, again, if someone or the industry causes us a problem here, we'll continue. We'll get through it. We'll find a way around it. But if that takes energy and distracts us from our focus, it may slow us down.
ZAHN: I think those of us watching you thought that you made pretty clear that you thought Channel 9, WUSA, had in some way crossed the line. What have they done wrong?
MOOSE: Well, ma'am, I was just trying to make sure that -- my question is to the community, if you want Channel 9, if you want the "Washington Post," if you want CNN to conduct this investigation, let me know. I've been told by the people that live in Montgomery County that they want the Montgomery County Police Department to do this investigation. They're very pleased that we've reached out to the best that the federal government has to offer. They're pleased that we've reached out to MPD, that we've reached out to Prince George's County.
But, again, if we want the media to do it, I'd like to know that and we will address what we didn't do with our resources. But I feel like the people that live here want us to do it. They seem to feel like it is their job to do, so they've got to put this information out there. They've got to make phone calls, have investigations, interview people. I think it's totally inappropriate.
ZAHN: In defense of the...
MOOSE: But the public needs to let us know.
ZAHN: In defense of the media, sir -- and certainly I can't answer to all of the reporting that's been on the air -- is the fact that we have the same balancing act that you face every day, where you want to inform the public and not compromise your investigation. And Clint Van Zandt, a former FBI profiler, just reacted to your news conference. He said look, I live in the same community. The last thing I'm going to do is putting information on the air that is going to make anybody more vulnerable. And he said that he thinks that the qualified people have been very careful to put generic information on the air.
I mean have they helped you at all?
MOOSE: Ma'am, I won't even respond to anything that gentleman has to say.
ZAHN: So it's personal? Is there something he has said on our air...
MOOSE: It's not personal, ma'am. I have so little respect for what he has to say that I have nothing to say when you qualify the question that it's coming from him. Please, you know? Let me deal with my job. You know, it has nothing to do with him.
ZAHN: All right, sir, just to...
MOOSE: I wouldn't give him that credence.
ZAHN: OK. We will let him respond to that at a later time.
Just a final thought on where exactly you are in the investigation with the release of this latest information about the tarot card. Are you any closer to getting the perpetrator of this crime?
MOOSE: I remain very hopeful that we are closer. We will certainly have to try to evaluate the impact of all of the energy that is going into conversation about the card.
ZAHN: Well, we wish you continued luck and hope that the reporting we've done here has actually enhanced your investigation and not hurt you.
Thank you, sir, for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
MOOSE: Well, ma'am, I hope so. I think there's a way for that to happen. But we'd like to work with you and so let's remain upbeat.
ZAHN: And when you say with you, you're talking about the media at large, local media, local newspapers and all the television stations as well?
MOOSE: Yes, ma'am.
ZAHN: Thank you, sir.
MOOSE: We know the advantages of that.
ZAHN: Terrific.
Thank you, sir.
Appreciate your time. Good luck.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
