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Pressure Mounts on Chief Moose as He Carries On Cryptic Dialogue with Sniper
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
By David Dishneau
Associated Press Writer

Cecil Pearson, a former police hostage team commander in Nevada, suggested whoever sent the message targeting children has found Moose’s weak point. The sniper is “pushing his buttons. He’s messing with him.” Pearson said.

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- AP
The pressure is mounting on Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, the man in charge of the sprawling sniper investigation that has so far been unable to stop the killing.

As frontman for hundreds of local and federal officers investigating the case, Moose’s grim expression and weary eyes have become the face of the task force.

At most of his news briefings, he has tried to calm fears. “This a strong nation,” Moose said Oct. 14, “and we will not be intimidated.”

But his tone changed Tuesday after the sniper gunned down a bus driver just a half-mile from where the rampage began Oct. 2. It was the 10th slaying by the sniper, who has also critically wounded three others.

After that, Moose conceded: “We have not been able to assure anyone, any age, any gender, any race - we’ve not been able to assure anyone their safety in regards to this situation.”

And later that afternoon, Moose delivered a message directly from the suspect: “Your children are not safe, anywhere at any time.”
(More: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan