Moose: Persistent under pressure

Despite public criticism, Moose remains determined

Charles Moose is the public face of the police investigation into the sniper currently stalking an area around the US capital.

Moose: Frustrations sometimes show

And, as the weeks mount since the killer first struck, Montgomery County Police Chief Moose is first in line for public criticism of police handling of the situation.

There are reports of miscommunication and reluctance to share information between various departments conducting investigations.

The strategy of trying to communicate with the sniper appears to have backfired - the killings are continuing despite the exchange of notes and phone.

And Chief Moose's reluctance to disclose that the sniper had specifically indicated children were targets until a leak prompted reporters to pester him has caused anger.

Many in the area feel that he has betrayed his duty to the public, in his attempts to engender the trust of the sniper.

'Unacceptable'

Chief Moose has sometimes let slip his own frustrations.

Charles Moose's career

Began career in 1975 as a patrol officer

Holds doctorate and Masters degrees

Taught criminal justice at Oregon State University

Served as police chief of Portland, Oregon from 1993 to 1999

When another leak revealed a message the killer had left behind on a tarot card, Chief Moose blew up at the press.

"I beg of the media, let us do our job. If the community wants you to do it, they will call today and we will have a vote...

"I don't think that's going to happen and I beg my community to make their voices heard. Because I am convinced that we are approaching interference, and interference is unacceptable."

But for the most part Chief Moose has appeared committed, persistent and unfazed by the media spotlight.

His statements have been, for the most part, calm and carefully crafted - lending perhaps some substance to reports that they are ghost-written by FBI profilers.

His public appearances have not betrayed that behind the scenes, as one FBI manager reportedly described, "everybody is yelling at everybody".

Indeed, at the start of a new week, Chief Moose has been eager to get going: "I never approach Monday morning with a sense of dread."

Reputation

"He's a cop's cop," says Montgomery County State Attorney Douglas F Gansler.

"He's a real police officer. He came up through the ranks. He literally and figuratively wears his uniform at all times."

Rupinder Oberoi survived an attack

Charles Moose, 49, was born and raised in North Carolina. He studied law, but joined the police force soon after graduation.

He moved to the US west coast, rising through the ranks and becoming police chief in Portland, Oregon in 1993.

While in Oregon he won the reputation for boosting community policing, and reducing the city crime rate.

He also acquired the reputation of having a quick temper.

When he left his Portland post in August 1999, an editorial in the local Portland Oregonian said:

The victims were killed by a single bullet

"An explosive temper sometimes set back Moose's efforts and severely bruised some relationships, but the chief should be remembered less for those occasional outbursts than for his huge accomplishments."

In 1999, he was appointed police chief in Montgomery county, one of Washington's suburbs, in charge of more than 1,000 officers.

Soon after taking up the position, he was reported to have complained about finding himself in less of a hot-spot, saying that Montgomery County "had just 13 murders last year".

Chief Moose might now be regretting those words.