(Testimony of Robert Inman Bouck Resumed)
Mr. Stern.
Fine, Mr. Chairman. I would like to turn now to the actual processing by PRS of the information they receive and have Mr. Bouck tell us what happens to an item of information when it is received, how it is processed, how the references to field offices are made, and perhaps you might illustrate, Mr. Bouck, from the cases that are summarized in Commission Exhibit 762.
Mr. Bouck.
In Exhibit 760, the second memorandum applies to that, and I will basically follow that unless questions differ.
Mr. Stern.
I think it would be better for you not to read it but to paraphrase it, tell us what happens.
Mr. Bouck.
When a document is received by the Secret Service, it is first searched against our files to see if we have any previous experience with this individual or with this threat. If it is found that we do have previous material there is an analysis made, and then a determination is made at that point as to what the apparent degree of threat would be on this.
If it appears that on the surface there is a threat, lookouts will immediately be issued to the White House detail, the White House police and various other security details, in order that they may be alerted to any danger that happens.
If the danger seems quite strong, a telephone call will be made to the field office in order to begin the investigation without even waiting for the mail. The threat is then processed and sent through the mail with the documents to the office concerned.
If it is determined that it is a possible danger, a card is put in a particular file which would alert us in case the President went to that area that an investigation of a dangerous person were underway. After the field office has investigated they would attempt to take corrective action if a law has been violated, the individual will be prosecuted, if practical, and if the individual is determined to be mentally ill, attempts will be made to get commitment into a mental institution.
When the report is submitted back, if the individual is not confined or is not evaluated as being no danger, then we would put cards in several control devices, one being a trip index file to make sure that we alerted the field office when the President went to that area; another being a control checkup device which means that if this individual is regarded as dangerous we will keep checking up on him every few months to see if he is getting worse or see what he is doing.
Mr. Stern.
Could you illustrate by a case or two from Exhibit 762 the different kinds of matters that come to your attention and the different ways in which they are processed?
Mr. Bouck.
Yes. On page 2 of this exhibit happens to be a case that had its origin in the field, in Denton, Tex., of a potential threat that appeared to apply to Dallas, It was investigated in the field, and pictures were obtained, and information was obtained and dispensed to the White House detail at the time President Kennedy went to Dallas, and in this particular case, it was subsequently referred to PRS and has been placed in our files and indexed in our indexes. Case No. 3 is a similar----
Mr. Dulles.
May I ask a question there? When you refer to the field offices, this is the field office of the Secret Service?
Mr. Bouck.
Field offices of the Secret Service.
Mr. Dulles.
How many do you have?
Mr. Bouck.
Sixty.
Mr. Dulles.
Sixty?
Mr. Bouck.
In the United States, and I believe one of those is in Puerto Rico and one is in Paris, of the 60.
Mr. Dulles.
Those offices cooperate with the FBI offices?
Mr. Bouck.
Yes. If you will look over these cases, you will see that as a matter of fact, this page. 3, this case is given as originating with the chief of police of Denton, Tex. but the FBI already also determined that and they reported that to us almost simultaneously.
Mr. Dulles.
Yes; that doesn't show up on this particular page.
Mr. Bouck.
No; it is stated, I think in some other exhibit but I erroneously neglected it here. But you will find in many of those, that was true on page 5, that indicates a case where the FBI has picked up information and gave it to us.
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