Iowa’s public safety commissioner is urging Iowans to contact law enforcement if they see something suspicious in light of the recent mass shooting in Orlando.
"When people are committing serious offense, they don't usually do it on the spur of the moment," says Commissioner Roxann Ryan. "They usually are making preparatory plans, they are conducting surveillance, they are collecting weaponry, they are practicing, doing trial runs, they are identifying victims or vulnerabilities."
Without tips from the public, Ryan says Iowa law enforcement is at a disadvantage in preventing a major event.
She adds as many details as possible are useful when describing something unusual. Information like license plate numbers, descriptions of vehicles, distinguishing features or clothing, and a detailed description of the suspicious behavior itself is especially useful.