ALLEGED CIA INVOLVEMENT IN THE BALLOU CASE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01430359
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: June 6, 1973

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_Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01430359,
(b)(3)
419.31.,
reports that in discussing the latter subject he
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
6 JUN 1973
THROUGH : Executive Secretary, CIA Management Committee
SUBJECT
: Alleged CIA Involvement in the Ballou Case
1. By memorandum dated 25 May 1973, I informed you of the
results of an interview of Mr. who reported that
Mr. an ernployeeTtheOTIie of Security, had
stated during a discussion period at Advanced Intelligence Seminar
No. 6 in September 1971 that the Office of Security had been involved
in the "Ballou case. " (The residence of Mr. Ballou, an antique gun
collector in Silver Spring, Maryland, was raided on 7 June 1971 by
Montgomery County Police and Federal law enforcement officers.
When the officers, dressed in civilian clothes, forced their way into
the house, Ballou picked up an antique pistol. The officers opened
fire and s'eriously wounded Ballou. He was hospitalized for several
months and was left partially paralyzed. I believe he is now suing
over the incident.)
2. We interviewed Mr. certain other employees who
attended the Seminar, and the Director of Security to determine just
what was said at the Seminar and the extent of any Agency involvement
in the Ballou case. We find that participants in the Seminar were
encouraged to discuss the details of their work and associated problems.
Mr. mentioned an assignment he had been on with the U. S.
Secret Service at the 1968 National Conventions and his liaison activities
with the Montgomery County Police.
3.
related a conversation he had with Inspector of the Mont-
gomery County Police, sometime in June 1971 after the Ballou incident
had been rep. rted in the newspapers. According to the
police inspector had thanked him for some amplifying equipment the
Agency had given to the Montgomery County Police and remarked that
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this equipment had probably saved a policeman's life. The inspector
commented that the account of the Ballou incident appearing in the
press was not the whole story. With the aid of the equipment the
Agency had provided, the police had intercepted a telephone call
from Ballou to a friend in which Ballou outlined plans to "kill a cop."
The police then staged a raid to forestall Ba.11ou's plan, and it was
. �Il
during this raid that Ballou was shot.
4. said that he has no other knowledge of the Ballou
case, except for what he has read in the newspapers, and that he has
not had any other conversations about the case with any members of
the Montgomery County Police. We learned nothing from our inquiries
that would indicate any other Agency involvement in the Ballou case.
5. The following are related excerpts from the "Family Jewels"
submission of the Director of Security on 16 May 1973:
During the period from 1968 to 1973, several items of
positive audio equipment consisting primarily of clandestine
- transmitters and touch-tone dial recorders were loaned to
the Metropolitan Police Department; Fairfax County, Virginia,
Police Department; Montgomery County, Maryland, Police
Department; New York City Police Department; and the San
Francisco, California, Police Department.
On 25 July 1968, and at the specific request of the '
United States Secret Service, this Office provided two audio
countermeasures technicians to the United States Secret Service
in connection with the Democratic National Convention held in
Chicago, Illinois. This was not an official detail although .
both men were provided with temporary credentials identifying
them as being affiliated with the United States Secret Service.
On 15 August 1968, we detailed the same two men to the
United States Secret Service to cover the Republican National
Convention in Miami, Florida. On both occasions, the team
members were debriefed upon their return and it is clear that
their activities were confined exclusively to sweeping the
- candidate:,' and potential candidates' quarters.
:7"" Bros
Williana V. Broe
Inspector General
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