Conference 7.286::digital

44.0. "Security at LJO" by HUMAN::CONKLIN () Sat Jun 22 1985 00:40

From:	VIKING::CAMPBELL     20-Jun-1985 11:26
To:	DRZEUS::ELWERTOWSKI ! sent to @UZI.DIS
Subj:	FLASH -- WEAPONS SEARCH AT LJO FACILITY

    POLICE WEAPONS SEARCH AT LJO FACILITY TURNS UP:  A WATER PISTOL

Littleton (LJO2), June 20 -- Armed Littleton police surrounded the DEC
LJO2 facility this morning around 9:30, evacuated the building, and
conducted a search of the office areas, because a security guard had
reported seeing an employee carrying an Uzi submachine gun.  The
result of the search: a battery-operated water pistol.

The first indication that the fire alarm didn't signify a mere fire
drill was a security guard frantically trying to prevent people from
leaving by the rear fire doors.  Those who did exit at the rear found
armed Littleton police at each rear corner of the building.

The officer in charge of the search spoke to this reporter and asked
him what he thought was happening.  When the reporter said "My guess
would be a drug search," the officer replied "You're totally wrong.
There are WEAPONS involved."

A group of employees standing nearby overheard this and suddenly burst
out laughing "I'll bet it's the Uzis." Several engineers had purchased
water pistols shaped like Uzi submachine guns and had brought them into
the building.  This at first facetious theory was, much to everyone's
delight, confirmed when the officer heading the search walked out the
front door holding a water pistol under a towel.

The water pistol, sold by Edmund Scientific, a New Jersey mail order
firm, is a plastic, battery-operated replica of an Uzi submachine
gun.  It is reported to be very popular among software engineers in
the personal computer industry.  "That sucker shoots almost 25 feet",
said the owner of the gun, "I hope I can get it back."

Thu 20-Jun-1985 10:47 EDT

I'd like to know why the security guard didn't tail (or have tailed) the
person who brought the weapon into the facility.  I can understand not wanting
to risk one's own life in an confrontation with an armed assailant, but a
watch should have been kept on the suspect while security were waiting for
the police to arrive.  Just passing the person through and letting them roam
at large was inexcusable.  No search of the building should have been necessary.
If security were doing their job, they should have known exactly where the
suspect was at all times.

--PSW

I understood that the guard did not see the person enter. Rather, 
another person waiting in the lobby saw him and told the guard.

RE .0

I haven't looked at this notesfile in quite some time, but jez, Peter,
what a GREAT idea.  Do you have the name of the mail order joint that
supplies the water uziies?  Do we get a bulk discount rate?