Crime & Safety
Coast Guard, Local Police Conduct Security Drill At L.A., Long Beach Ports
The exercise was based on the Area Maritime Security Training and Exercise Program.
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday presided over a multi- agency homeland security exercise at the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach complex.
The five-hour drill that began at 9 a.m. was designed to enhance coordination between federal, state and local agencies if there is a threat to the ports. It was conducted near the Vincent Thomas Bridge, the Coast Guard said.
Among the agencies that participated along with the Coast Guard were the FBI, Los Angeles Port Police, the Los Angeles and Long Beach police departments, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Los Angeles and Long Beach fire departments.
Find out what's happening in Long Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The exercise was based on the Area Maritime Security Training and Exercise Program. Because of the drill, the Captain of the Port established a temporary safety zone near the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Los Angeles Main Channel that was enforced from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Coast Guard Petty Officer Sondra-Kay Kneen said.
-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard
