Residents of Carlyle Towers were recently informed the 24/7 U.S. Marshal's perimeter surveillance and protection team at the Federal Courthouse has been temporarily suspended.
That alert came to them in correspondence from Dave Buckley, president of Carlyle Towers Homeowners Association, dated mid-February. It also reassured residents protection would be reinstated if and when a trial takes place at the courthouse on Jamieson Avenue for Zacharias Moussaoui, the accused 20th highjacker of Sept. 11, 2001.
"According to the U.S. Marshal's Service and Marshal John Clark, the suspension of the guard service is due to a decrease in the perceived threat to the courthouse and the surrounding areas because of the delay in the Moussaoui trial," Buckley explained.
"The stand down was based on a threat analysis by the U.S. Marshal's Service resulting in a perceived decrease in the threat linked to the fact Moussaoui is, and will continue to be, safely housed in the Alexandria Detention Center."
REMOVAL OF THE round-the-clock protection is also based on the assumption Moussaoui will not likely have any further court hearings requiring him to be physically present in court until the appeal process is completed, according to Buckley's letter.
As for the physical barriers and guard stations on Jamieson Avenue, Buckley noted the government intends to leave these in place at least until the required decisions are made on trial issues.
"They will remain longer if the trial proceeds," said Buckley.
Robert Uttenweiler, a Carlyle Tower resident, agreed with the decision to leave the physical constraints in place at this time. "It makes sense not to remove the physical barriers until the whole matter is resolved.
"If they had to go back and reconstruct them, it would be a waste of money, not to mention the noise factor all over again," he exclaimed. "But we are always glad to be updated on any developments."
THESE DECISIONS were based on information that the trial would start in the fall, barring a further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Buckley added, "There also remains the possibility that the trial could be moved to a military tribunal."
Buckley further assured residents that the association was continuing to meet with city officials as well as with U.S. Sen. John Warner (R) and U.S. Rep. James Moran (D-8th) to resolve unanswered questions. Each received copies of the correspondence to the residents.
Barbara Gordon, public information officer for Alexandria city manager Philip Sunderland, said, "This change is an agreement between the U.S. Marshals Service and the Carlyle Towers residents. But the city will continue to provide safety not only for those residents but all city residents.
"This has not changed the role of our police or any other element of city government in protecting our citizens. We continue to be on call full time when it comes to citizens' safety."