Police talk counter-terrorism measures in wake of Palm Springs fertility clinic attack
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) -- In the aftermath of the Palm Springs fertility clinic terrorist attack, News Channel 3 is holding officials accountable to see how this attack will change enforcement.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills is no stranger to domestic terrorism. Before Palm Springs, Mills worked in counter-terrorism measures in the San Diego Police Department.
Sitting down with News Channel 3's Athena Jreij, Chief Mills addressed if the attack could've been prevented had there been more surveillance by authorities.
"Yes, if people saw those things and brought them forward to government, to the police."
Mills says now the department plans to ramp up their counter-terrorism enforcement, which looks at 'threat domains,' or extremist groups in the area and the risk they pose to marginalized groups.
According to the Chief, vulnerable groups in the area include the desert's LGBTQ+, Jewish and Hispanic populations. It's why they keep a close eye on local hate groups.
"In the county, you have Proud Boys. You also have Oath Keepers and and other Three Percenters. Our biggest fear and concern is white supremacy, the folks in the far, far right who, don't have an off switch," Mills said.
The department has also been on the lookout for copy cats, or people who could be inspired by the crime's infamy.
"I do not believe, in the depths of my heart that there is a, substantial threat to our community. Could, a copycat do this again? Yeah. But you have to remember, it takes time to acquire the resources and materials to put all this together. There are tripwires in place for government to find out. If, if somebody is is doing this kind of thing."
However, to our knowledge Guy Edward Bartkus wasn't apart of those extremist groups and rather, used the internet to spread his fringe ideology of pro-mortalism, anti-natalism.
It's why Chief Mills says keeping a close eye on social platforms is also a priority. The department's Real Time Crime Center will also bring a new element to public safety. The center has been approved by the City Council and is set up to be the largest radar-enabled drone responder system in the U.S.
"We'll have not only drones operating, but, software in that Real Time Crime Center. Someone will be sitting in there running the license plate, checking the fly cameras. Was there was there anybody else in the car? We have other cameras that around town that we can pull up," Mills said.
The most important part to preventing something like this again? Eyes on the ground from the public.
"If you see it, you own it. If you're the person who's online, one of these chat groups and I espouse something that is going to harm other people, you own it morally."
