Eagle Eyes adds website to repertoire

Photo By Sgt. Danielle Rodrigues | Eagle Eyes, a neighborhood watch program designed to educate people about what to do and who to call when they see suspicious activity on base, has added another avenue for reporting: www.usmceagleeyes.org.  

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

02.06.2013

Story by Sgt. Rebekka Heite 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - Eagle Eyes, a neighborhood watch program designed to educate people about what to do and who to call when they see suspicious activity on base, has added another avenue for reporting: www.usmceagleeyes.org.

“The website allows people with cell phones to take pictures of the car, license plate or person and upload them with their report,” said Pete Russett, director, Mission Assurance Branch, Marine Corps Base Quantico. “This captures the maximum value from eyewitness incidents.”

The website is only meant to augment the current reporting avenues, he cautioned.

“If the activity requires immediate response, continue to call 911,” Russett said. “For non-immediate threats, call 703-432-EYES.”

The website will be checked continuously, however, there may be a delay in seeing it as opposed to a more immediate response of someone calling, added Orvel Ronk, antiterrorism program manager, MAB. Photographs can always be uploaded to the website after calling in the report.

If there is a doubt as to whether an incident should be reported, the observer should always report it, Russett said.

“Don’t be afraid to say something,” added Ronk.
Eagle Eyes, which has been an active program on Quantico for approximately six years, works, said Russett.
“What may seem like not that big of a deal, when you add it up, it leads to a different conclusion,” he added. “Eagle Eyes reporting captures those series of what may seem innocuous events and allows intelligence and law enforcement experts to analyze and possibly discover a more sinister plot.”

If people aboard Quantico use the website as it was intended, it will produce higher-fidelity leads for appropriate investigative authorities and in doing so enhance the security and protection of all aboard: uniformed personnel, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and family members, Russett said.

In addition to the three reporting avenues, Eagle Eyes also adopted a mascot in 2007. Archie, the eagle, can be seen at each gate at least once a month, at every Welcome Aboard brief and at random locations around the base at least twice a month. Archie’s goal is to remind the people on Quantico to report suspicious activities including, but not limited to: abandoned vehicles, taking photos in restricted areas and hanging out around the gates.

To volunteer to wear the Archie costume, call Orvel Ronk at 432-0763 or email him at [e-mail].
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• Date Taken: 02.06.2013
• Date Posted: 02.06.2013 11:19
• Story ID: 101546
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US