Los Angeles officials Thursday were scheduled to unveil an anti-terrorism program that aims to teach the public how to identify and report suspicious behaviors and activities.

Police Chief Charlie Beck will be joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to introduce the start of iWATCH, the 21st century version of Neighborhood Watch during a press conference at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

In October, Police Chief William Bratton said the program was "intended to be the next evolution of keeping America safe from terrorism by enlisting the 300 million Americans who care about this country, who care about our way of life, to work with their local police."

Under the program, the public is encouraged to report behavior like people drawing or measuring buildings, strangers asking questions about security procedures and to watch for intruders in secure areas.

Officials said by reporting such activities can save lives. However, civil rights organizations have raised concerns it could lead to racial and religious profiling.

"Of course people should be able to report activity that they think is suspicious, and the LAPD has long maintained a hotline for residents to do so," Peter Bribing of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California warned in October. "But iWATCH actively encourages people to report a variety of ordinary activities -- such as people wearing clothes that are too big, or who are drawing buildings, or who are doing something else that could be innocuous. That could lead to racial and religious profiling."

To report suspicious activity call (877) A-THREAT or visit www.iWatchLA.org.