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American Morning

Interview with Charles Moose

Aired October 11, 2002 - 08:03   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: We're going to go back now to our other top story, the sniper shootings in the Washington area.
Bill Hemmer standing by on the scene in Rockville, Maryland -- good morning, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Paula, good morning again.

Much like yesterday, the rain is coming down, weather very inclement here throughout the area. And the chief told us yesterday that oftentimes the weather can play a factor in an investigation.

Talking with Doug Duncan, the executive here in Montgomery County, oftentimes DNA gets washed away, oftentimes blood evidence is washed away, as well. It does not help in a situation like this.

Let's bring in the chief, Charles Moose, who's been essentially working around the clock, our guest again this morning here on AMERICAN MORNING here in Rockville.

Good morning to you.

CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Good morning.

HEMMER: About an hour ago you said a graphic aid will be released by the FBI. Can you define that any better as to what a graphic aid would be, later?

MOOSE: Well, we're very hopeful that the special projects unit will have that information ready. We think if we can get it out in the media, get it to the public, it'll be very helpful.

HEMMER: Is this some sort of profile that may take us beyond what we've been told already?

MOOSE: Well, sir, again, we'll have that aid as soon as possible and then get it out.

HEMMER: OK. You said also that you're receiving very good tips from people. How good?

MOOSE: Well, certainly people are calling. The numbers are good. People are talking to us. And we want to certainly hold any of those details. One, we want the callers to be confidential. And we'd like to have that information to use in the case.

HEMMER: I don't want to read too much in between the lines of what you said earlier, but do you get an indication that some people are not calling for some sort of shyness factor or perhaps they don't believe their indication is valuable? Is that what you're trying to indicate?

MOOSE: Well, I'm just very concerned that somehow they may have heard something that now eliminates their information. So we've encouraged people to stop talking about age ranges and talking about race and talking about numbers, that people need to be open minded in what they saw and what they think they know. And if they are processed that, call us. We'll hold that information confidential and we want to follow up their lead.

I also want to stress that we're at this point closing in on the $350,000 that we wanted for the reward. So somewhere out there we're sure someone knows and I hope they call for the reward. I hope they call us with the information.

HEMMER: Sometimes money does talk.

MOOSE: Yes, it does.

HEMMER: When you talk and you come out and brief reporters, how concerned are you, or do you believe that, in fact, the sniper is listening to your words?

MOOSE: Well, I'm always concerned that I don't say anything to compromise the work of my investigators. I just depend on them so much that I just don't want to do anything that makes their job more difficult. It is very complex as it is.

HEMMER: Yes, are you trying at times to communicate with the sniper?

MOOSE: Well, sir, I'm just trying to give information to the public so that they understand that we're working and that they understand that we're doing everything that we can to keep them safe.

HEMMER: On Wednesday afternoon there was a guy down the street here just a couple miles who was involved in some sort of mental disturbance, firing a gun off inside of his house. A dozen police cars responded within five minutes. They tape off the entire neighborhood. There's a road rage case nearby last night that police officers got on the chase, as well.

How frustrating is it all becoming knowing that when anything moves in this part of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area that you guys have to be on it?

MOOSE: Well, I think in some ways I wish we had the resources to do that all the time. I think people would like that. Obviously we have a lot of resources out on the street. Everybody is at a higher state of anxiety. But the kind of things you just described, it would be my pleasure if forever more we could respond to every situation that way. People that live here deserve that.

HEMMER: And the people who live here this weekend, your message to them is what? The sniper did not strike last Saturday or last Sunday. You have a number of outdoor events that have been canceled or rescheduled. What do you tell the people living in your town?

MOOSE: Well, I think the same message. Individually we all have to make our own decisions. But Americans are very resilient. We're not going to taken off path because of fear. We've got all of the people that have tried to do that in the past and people that will do that in the future.

This is a great nation and so, yes, I understand individually people have to make decisions, but I hope people are out and about and I hope everyone is safe.

HEMMER: Good luck to you, as we always say.

MOOSE: Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Chief Charlie Moose here in Rockville, Maryland.

Once again the number for everyone to call, 888-324-9800. Lines are open, about 40 of them right now throughout the entire day, 24 hours a day.

More in a moment, Paula. Back to you in New York.

ZAHN: Thanks, Bill.

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 11, 2002 - 08:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back now to our other top story, the sniper shootings in the Washington area.
Bill Hemmer standing by on the scene in Rockville, Maryland -- good morning, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Paula, good morning again.

Much like yesterday, the rain is coming down, weather very inclement here throughout the area. And the chief told us yesterday that oftentimes the weather can play a factor in an investigation.

Talking with Doug Duncan, the executive here in Montgomery County, oftentimes DNA gets washed away, oftentimes blood evidence is washed away, as well. It does not help in a situation like this.

Let's bring in the chief, Charles Moose, who's been essentially working around the clock, our guest again this morning here on AMERICAN MORNING here in Rockville.

Good morning to you.

CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Good morning.

HEMMER: About an hour ago you said a graphic aid will be released by the FBI. Can you define that any better as to what a graphic aid would be, later?

MOOSE: Well, we're very hopeful that the special projects unit will have that information ready. We think if we can get it out in the media, get it to the public, it'll be very helpful.

HEMMER: Is this some sort of profile that may take us beyond what we've been told already?

MOOSE: Well, sir, again, we'll have that aid as soon as possible and then get it out.

HEMMER: OK. You said also that you're receiving very good tips from people. How good?

MOOSE: Well, certainly people are calling. The numbers are good. People are talking to us. And we want to certainly hold any of those details. One, we want the callers to be confidential. And we'd like to have that information to use in the case.

HEMMER: I don't want to read too much in between the lines of what you said earlier, but do you get an indication that some people are not calling for some sort of shyness factor or perhaps they don't believe their indication is valuable? Is that what you're trying to indicate?

MOOSE: Well, I'm just very concerned that somehow they may have heard something that now eliminates their information. So we've encouraged people to stop talking about age ranges and talking about race and talking about numbers, that people need to be open minded in what they saw and what they think they know. And if they are processed that, call us. We'll hold that information confidential and we want to follow up their lead.

I also want to stress that we're at this point closing in on the $350,000 that we wanted for the reward. So somewhere out there we're sure someone knows and I hope they call for the reward. I hope they call us with the information.

HEMMER: Sometimes money does talk.

MOOSE: Yes, it does.

HEMMER: When you talk and you come out and brief reporters, how concerned are you, or do you believe that, in fact, the sniper is listening to your words?

MOOSE: Well, I'm always concerned that I don't say anything to compromise the work of my investigators. I just depend on them so much that I just don't want to do anything that makes their job more difficult. It is very complex as it is.

HEMMER: Yes, are you trying at times to communicate with the sniper?

MOOSE: Well, sir, I'm just trying to give information to the public so that they understand that we're working and that they understand that we're doing everything that we can to keep them safe.

HEMMER: On Wednesday afternoon there was a guy down the street here just a couple miles who was involved in some sort of mental disturbance, firing a gun off inside of his house. A dozen police cars responded within five minutes. They tape off the entire neighborhood. There's a road rage case nearby last night that police officers got on the chase, as well.

How frustrating is it all becoming knowing that when anything moves in this part of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area that you guys have to be on it?

MOOSE: Well, I think in some ways I wish we had the resources to do that all the time. I think people would like that. Obviously we have a lot of resources out on the street. Everybody is at a higher state of anxiety. But the kind of things you just described, it would be my pleasure if forever more we could respond to every situation that way. People that live here deserve that.

HEMMER: And the people who live here this weekend, your message to them is what? The sniper did not strike last Saturday or last Sunday. You have a number of outdoor events that have been canceled or rescheduled. What do you tell the people living in your town?

MOOSE: Well, I think the same message. Individually we all have to make our own decisions. But Americans are very resilient. We're not going to taken off path because of fear. We've got all of the people that have tried to do that in the past and people that will do that in the future.

This is a great nation and so, yes, I understand individually people have to make decisions, but I hope people are out and about and I hope everyone is safe.

HEMMER: Good luck to you, as we always say.

MOOSE: Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Chief Charlie Moose here in Rockville, Maryland.

Once again the number for everyone to call, 888-324-9800. Lines are open, about 40 of them right now throughout the entire day, 24 hours a day.

More in a moment, Paula. Back to you in New York.

ZAHN: Thanks, Bill.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com