(Testimony of Forrest V. Sorrels)
Mr. Stern.
he left Washington. Did this surprise you, that there were no individuals who had previously been identified as potential threats to the President in the territory of the Dallas office?
Mr. Sorrels.
No. We had records of some subjects that were in institutions, but they were not out where they would be available.
Mr. Stern.
Had there been in the past, during your tenure in the Dallas office, PRS subjects who were not in institutions?
Mr. Sorrels.
Oh, yes.
Mr. Stern.
But there were none at this particular time?
Mr. Sorrels.
That is right.
Mr. Stern.
When the incident involving Ambassador Stevenson had occurred, did you consider obtaining information on the participants and referring that information to the Protective Research Section in Washington for their files?
Mr. Sorrels.
Not unless the President or the Vice President would come to that area, I had no intention doing that, because there was no actual threat, nor was the President of the United States involved in name or otherwise, insofar as I knew, in connection with the Stevenson affair.
Mr. Stern.
How has the cooperation been with local authorities and local officers of Federal agencies in advising you of any potential danger to the President?
Mr. Sorrels.
We have received reports of phone calls and threats or something like that from time to time. I think that all of the Federal offices that come into any information about a threat concerning the President of the United States have certainly in the past, to my recollection--I don't recall any specific instance---but I do know we have received such reports.
Mr. Stern.
And from the local police authorities?
Mr. Sorrels.
I can't recall any specific instance, but I am sure that in the past there have been instances where such a report has been reported to us.
Mr. Stern.
Have you made known to the local authorities the kind of information in which you would be interested in this area?
Mr. Sorrels.
Yes. We have participated in the training schools of the Dallas Police Department, and the Fort Worth Police Department, the auxiliary schools conducted by the sheriff's office and the Dallas Police Department.
We have participated in schools at Austin, Tex., given by the Department of Public Safety to investigative officers, to sheriffs-elect, deputy sheriffs and other sheriffs.
We have participated at Texas A & M College, at College Station, Tex, in their program of police training, where they have students that are members of various police departments, and other law enforcement organizations that attend their classes.
And in our course of instruction, we have discussed with them the protective measures that are required and taken in connection with the protection of the President of the United States, members of his family, and the Vice President.
Mr. Stern.
How is your liaison with the local police and local offices of Federal agencies?
Mr. Sorrels.
I consider it very, very good.
Mr. Stern.
In all respects?
Mr. Sorrels.
In all respects; yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
Had you requested any local Federal agency, for example FBI or Internal Revenue, to participate in any way in the actual protection measures for the day of the President's visit?
Mr. Sorrels.
I had offers from some of the other agencies, offering their services in case there was anything they could assist in.
The usual reply to that is that we are working with the local officials, police department, sheriff's department, Department of Public Safety, and we feel that we have sufficient manpower to take care of the program as we have in the past, and we have always suggested, in not only this instance but in other instances, that if any member of their department should hear of anything, or see anything unusual, that they felt we should know about, to please get in touch with us immediately, along those lines.
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