Manhunt for sniper is now largest of its kind

To an anxious public accustomed to seeing brutal crimes wrapped up in an hour on TV crime shows, the search for the sniper terrorizing the greater Washington area seems painfully slow.

Critics say there have been errors, leaks, and miscommunications that may have confused the public and exposed too much of the investigation and its resources to the sniper.

But in the world of law enforcement, this investigation represents the most rapid convergence of resources to find a killer ever – with support reaching all the way to the Pentagon. And as the manhunt tests whether an effort crossing so many jurisdictions – and egos – can be coherent, officials close to the investigation say they are optimistic that glitches are being worked out.

"I remind you of the talent and skill we have in this investigation.... As we learn things, we adjust and improve," said Charles Moose, Montgomery County Police Chief, Friday in response to critics. Because the first attacks on Oct. 3 occurred in that county, Chief Moose officially leads the probe.

In fact, the failure to catch the sniper so far, experts say, has more to do with the difficulties inherent in this kind of case than with law-enforcement lapses.

Since Oct. 2, nine people have been killed and two wounded in sniper attacks in the Greater Washington area.

The investigation now involves more than 1,000 local, state, and federal officers, ranging from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to US Park police, Secret Service, US Marshals, and postal inspectors. All this manpower brings obvious advantages.

"The downside is all the bureaucratic issues that come up, the territorial issues and the professional jealousies simmering," says Greg McCrary, a former FBI profiler now with Behavioral Criminology International, a consulting firm in Fredericksburg, Va. "All things considered, things seem to be going about as smoothly as could be expected."

Within minutes of what appeared to be a new sniper attack in Ashland, Va., Saturday night, FBI investigators and members of the sniper task force based in Rockville were rushing to the site.

At the same time, D.C. police 80 miles to the north quietly began to block key points of entrance and exit across the city. Virginia state police covered the highway exits. Before a driver at full speed could reach city limits, police were shining bright lights into every car, van, or truck trying to pass them.

"I don't think any local criminal investigation has been done on this scale before. It's very unusual to have this level of manpower and resources for this type of event," says Tod Burke, criminologist at Radford University in Radford, Va.

At press time, this 12th victim was alive – one of three to have survived.

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