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WH: No plans to federalize sniper probeBush calls for end of 'violence and fear'
From Kelly Wallace
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush decried the "ruthless person" responsible for a series of sniper attacks in the Washington area and promised Wednesday the "full resources" of the federal government to help find the culprit, but his spokesman said the administration has no plans to ask the FBI to take over the investigation. Currently, federal agents are assisting local authorities investigating the attacks that have killed 10 people and wounded three since October 2. "The local law enforcement officials will tell you they think the cooperation they've got has been very helpful and that the entire endeavor is operating as best as it can under what's obviously very trying circumstances for all," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters. "The current mixture of local officials working with federal officials... is what the law enforcement community believes is the best approach," Fleischer said. "It remains a joint operation." Later, Bush described himself as "deeply saddened" by the attacks and said he and the first lady were praying for a "quick end to this period of violence and fear." "There is a ruthless person on the loose," Bush said at a White House forum on the exploitation of children. "I've ordered the full resources of the federal government to help local law enforcement officials in their efforts to capture this person." Fleischer said Bush has not complained about the pace or approach of the investigation. "The president is not going to and will not, and no president should micromanage a law enforcement investigation," Fleischer said. The Bush spokesman's comments come after questions have been raised about whether the federal government should take over an investigation that now covers Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Bush receives a briefing every morning on the investigation and has directed the federal government "to leave no stone unturned in helping local authorities" catch the sniper, Fleischer said. The Education Department is providing $250,000 to help Maryland schools purchase radio equipment for school buses, after a request from the state school superintendent Tuesday afternoon, the White House said. The Bush administration is also providing $250,000 to Virginia schools and $100,000 to D.C. schools, directing these jurisdictions to "use the funds the way they see most fit to address their unique needs," Fleischer said. "These are very trying times," the Bush spokesman said. "No one, no matter where you live in the United States, can fail to be affected by the fears that this has installed in our communities and that's why the president feels strongly that the federal government has an important responsibility and has been carrying it out to be helpful." More than 1,000 federal agents and experts have been assigned to the case, according to Fleischer. He gave the most in-depth list to date of how the federal government is assisting, noting how the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has 454 agents, 59 inspectors, 9 canine handlers and 101 other support personnel assigned to the effort. The Secret Service has assigned 50 special agents and the FBI has more than 600 people involved. He said the Justice Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also involved. Fleischer also said the Customs Service is providing helicopter support, the Defense Department is providing air assistance to help track down the sniper, and the Department of Health and Human Services is providing counseling and training to help the community develop a coordinated response to the attacks.
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