Santa Monica Playing It Safe

Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. met with reporters this week and declared a potential homeland security threat.

Police received a call last month from a citizen who had taken photos of “Middle Eastern individuals” as they shot video of the Santa Monica Pier and surrounding area in a manner that authorities said was “inconsistent with tourist documentary.”

In a press release, Butts said he wanted “to assure residents, business owners and visitors that the Police Department is increasing security as a preemptive measure against any potential terrorism threats or other security breaches.”

Law enforcement sources said the individuals in question were also reported to have filmed around the Vincent Thomas Bridge, linking Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the Huntington Beach Pier.

But FBI officials have moved to clarify the seriousness of the situation. On Thursday, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency looked into the situation after the individuals filmed the Vincent Thomas Bridge and determined at that time that they didn’t pose a threat.

On Friday, another FBI spokeswoman, Cathy Viray, added: “The FBI looked into the matter, and with the information at the time, it was deemed not a threat. We are working jointly with Santa Monica [police] to look into the matter.”

Other law enforcement agencies have yet to follow Santa Monica’s lead and issue public warnings. Huntington Beach Police Lt. Dave Bunetta said his agency has no information that suggests an actual terrorist threat.

Butts informed the Santa Monica City Council about the filming at a closed session meeting Tuesday -- the same day he asked for surveillance cameras, additional patrols and bomb-sniffing dogs around the pier area and the Third Street Promenade to boost security “as a preemptive measure against any potential terrorism threats or other security breaches.”

The city is expected to spend about $2 million for these measures, according to City Council members.

During the meeting, Butts showed the City Council the photos of the men videotaping the pier.

Several council members said Friday that they backed the way Butts handled the situation, saying it made sense to beef up security. They also expressed support for Butts’ plan to place cameras at the pier and other popular public places.

“We’re treating it as a warning that we need to be sure to have adequate security in these places,” said Councilman Ken Genser. While Genser said he doesn’t believe Santa Monica faces an imminent threat of attack, he believes installing cameras would be “a prudent activity on the part of the city to avoid potential problems in the future.”

Genser said he attended a concert this week at the pier and noticed increased police presence.

Councilman Herb Katz said Santa Monica was working with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to understand just how much of a risk of terrorist activity there might be.

“The concern we have as a council and a city and Jim Butts as chief is, if we do nothing and something happens, that’s a tragedy, a major tragedy. If we deter it, then we won’t know, and people might ask: ‘Did you waste money?’ ” Katz said. “I don’t think we can look at it any other way than to do something. It’s time we really woke up to the fact that we’re all vulnerable.”

Katz said the three photos Butts showed the council during the closed session meeting left him with concerns.

“There were three people taking pictures on a pier that’s a tourist attraction,” he said. “They were going under the pier and looking at pilings.”

Butts did not return several calls seeking comment Friday.

In the original public statement, released Wednesday, the department said it wanted to be “proactive to reinforce security at public spaces that attract large crowds so visitors will be comfortable coming to Santa Monica.” The statement also said the city had not been informed by any federal, state or county agency that a threat has been made against the city.

Other agencies said they are still working with Santa Monica police and other federal agents to confirm whether the individuals making the videotapes at the Santa Monica pier also were involved in filming in their communities. While they don’t see a need to issue a public warning now, that could charge based on new information.

“The only information is that they identified three individuals videotaping at the pier, and those individuals were possibly involved in the same type of activity [in Huntington Beach],” Bunetta said. “There was never any indication there was a threat to anybody or any place.”

Los Angeles Port Police Chief Ronald J. Boyd, whose agency patrols the Vincent Thomas Bridge, said his department is also investigating.

The bridge is considered a possible terrorist target because it links the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which constitute the third-largest seaport in the world.

Times staff writers Deborah Schoch and Monte Morin contributed to this report.