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--> --> Police chief backs up words PORTLAND (AP)- Portland police chief Mark Kroeker has been a frequent fixture on national TV shows to assert he works closely with federal agents despite this city's refusal to interview 23 foreigners as part of the national anti-terror probe. By announcing the arrest of a Lebanese man allegedly linked to a Palestinian guerrilla group, Kroeker has backed up his words. "I want the people of Portland to know that there is full cooperation between the Portland Police Bureau and agencies of the federal government," Kroeker said at a Tuesday news conference. But there are complaints that Kroeker took too long to announce the Oct. 24 arrest of 39-year-old Ali Khaled Steitiye. Critics say the secrecy surrounding the arrest invites mistrust. "Portland police have said we're working with the federal government but we're not going to talk about it, and that's not right," said Barb Payne, a volunteer organizer for Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, which opposed U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan. trample on civil liberties." Dave Fidanque, American Civil Liberties Union director for Oregon, was also critical of the secrecy surrounding the investigation. "Our courts are open, and that openness of our judicial system is a strength, not a weakness," Fidanque said. The arrest of Steitiye was announced Tuesday after he appeared in federal court for a pretrial hearing seeking release from jail. Kroeker said the arrest would have remained secret if it had not been for the hearing. "Up until this point, we have not been able to talk about this because these are secret investigations and confidential investigations," Kroeker said. Police are saying nothing about whether Steitiye is suspected of currently having links to any terrorist groups. "His connection to other activity is not to be talked about," Kroeker said. Kroeker also said "the leads from this treasure trove of evidence may lead us to something else that would help us protect the citizens of Portland." Steitiye is charged with trying to illegally obtain an assault rifle from a gun dealer in August. During a search of Steitiye's apartment, investigators found a calendar with the date Sept. 11 highlighted. At the Tuesday court hearing, Steitiye said Sept. 11 was a sad day for him and that's why he circled the date. "I care about the interest of this country and the security of this country," he told U.S. Magistrate John Jelderks. At the Tuesday news conference, Kroeker alluded to the heat he's been feeling over Portland's refusal of the U.S. Justice Department's request to interview foreign visitors as part of the nationwide anti-terror probe. He said announcing the arrest of Steitiye "gives me a certain amount of relief" because it is proof of the city's close cooperation with federal agents. U.S. Attorney Michael Mosman on Wednesday repeated his praise for Kroeker and Portland police for helping federal agents investigate Steitiye. "I think it's worth remembering in the anti-terrorism effort we have going on in Oregon that the Portland police have eight full-time people working on it - more than any other agency except for the FBI," Mosman said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing