State Investigates Legitimacy of Homeland Security Inspection

State Investigates Legitimacy of Homeland Security Inspection

November 23, 2003

CHATTANOOGA (AP) -- State officials are investigating whether a man who recently inspected a chemical plant in Chattanooga was an official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as he claimed, or an impostor.

Mjr. Gen. Jerry Humble, Tennessee's chief of homeland security, said his group is aware of the situation and intends to get to the bottom of it.

Officials were informed of the man's visit to the Chattanooga BASF plant during a meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

David Darnell, BASF's safety manager, told the committee that a man identifying himself as a federal inspector called to ask about some tanker rail cars at the plant.

Darnell told the man to "bring some identification" to the plant, where he could get his questions answered in person.

The man, wearing a uniform and armed with a pistol, arrived several days later.

Humble said the Department of Homeland Security has not informed his office of any plans to inspect industrial plants in Tennessee.

In addition, he said, it is standard practice for armed federal agents to notify local law enforcement agencies when they come into town.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)