Actually, this could be done by a group of concerned citizens without the approval of the police - just substitute cell phones for radios.
Firearms are OK in VA, but not in MD or DC. No big deal, it’s going to have to be the police that takes on this guy anyway. The concerned citizens would simply call in the suspicious activity.
(Admittedly, some of the DC and MD areas are high crime and you really would want a firearm when in them; as usual you can’t legally have a firearm when you need it most!)
That said, it would make a lot more sense for the concerned citizens to work in conjunction with the police. Otherwise, the police are continually going to be jumping on the citizens as they slink about.
Also, for those interested in the reward (which doesn’t include me), I’d think reporting suspicious activity and having it pan out would be all that’s needed.
Incidentally, this brings up a really sore point with me. I live in the area and the last two shootings were in really obvious locations.
IMHO, and admitting I may not know everything, [b]there is absolutely no excuse for there not having been at least observers, if not stake-out teams, at both locations[/b]. To a lesser degree, this can also be said about the school shooting at Bowie.
If the NYPD had been running this investigation, I think the shooter would be in jail right now. Irretrievable opportunities have been missed; irreplaceable lives have been lost. Unless I learn some reason to feel differently, I’m going to be angry about this until the day I die!!
Unfortunately, I suspect that after almost getting caught, the shooter may change his MO a bit. (Alternatively, he might try to show his boldness by returning to an area he already used - like Manassas).
FWIW, let me add that I called the Montgomery County Tip Line a couple of days ago with a gratuitous suggestion (absolutely nothing to do with AR15.com!). I also asked if they needed volunteers (I’m retired LE). The individual I spoke to happened to be a retired Montgomery County PD Captain himself.
He advised that it looked like the FBI might be taking over the investigation. He said the FBI had indicated that if they took over, they only wanted actively sworn officers working the case – no retirees.
Lastly, let me dismiss the suggestion that non-LEO’s can do as good or as better a job as LEO’s. Not to offend anyone, but this is nonsense. If it were true, there would be no need to train LEO’s – since the job wouldn’t require training.
Being a decent LEO involves far more than simply firearms training (which, ironically, may explain why LEO’s often don’t get as much firearms training as they should). Use of force, non-lethal weapons, traffic stops, pursuit driving, arrest techniques, rules of evidence, etc. – the list goes on and on and on!