State, L.A. Ratchet Up Terrorism Alerts

In response to the heightened security alert issued by the federal government Friday, agencies across California increased their own levels of warning.

Gov. Gray Davis signed an order creating a state Office of Homeland Security, which will coordinate statewide security and work with federal law enforcement.

Its director, George Vinson, a former FBI agent, said that although there is no specific threat against California, “there is a lot of information around the world” suggesting attacks are planned.

In Los Angeles, police stepped up patrols at about 550 sensitive locations and unveiled a toll-free number, staffed by counter-terrorism experts, that residents can call to report suspicious activity. New York City has a similar hotline that has worked well, local officials said.

The tip line is 1-877-A-THREAT (1-877-284-7328).

“What we are encouraging people to do is get into the game,” said John Miller, the former ABC anchorman who is now police Chief William Bratton’s special assistant on counterterrorism. “Look for things that don’t fit ... and tell us.”

Examples of things that police want to hear about, he said, are a group of people carrying chemical or electronic equipment into an apartment where they do not live or videotaping of power plants or bridges.

Tips must be detailed to be useful, Miller said. He recommended taking notes and jotting down license plate numbers. But he cautioned against jumping to conclusions about people based on their ethnicity or religion.

Miller said that since Sept. 11, the LAPD, in conjunction with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, has “been involved in investigations ... where people have been taken into custody.” He declined to elaborate.

Mayor James K. Hahn stressed that no specific threat has been made toward any site in Los Angeles. He urged people to go on with their daily lives but asked them “to remain vigilant.”

“Here in Los Angeles, we’re safe but we are prepared,” he said.

In Orange County, sheriff’s deputies stepped up patrols shortly after Washington’s announcement.

“We moved quickly,” said Assistant Orange County Sheriff George Jaramillo. “Within 30 minutes we began screening all vehicles coming into the [John Wayne Airport] parking lot.” Deputies also curtailed time off for officers and increased officers’ presence at the three harbors patrolled by the department.

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Times staff writers Jessica Garrison and H.G. Reza contributed to this report.