With the threat of terrorism at its highest level in weeks,
local law enforcement officials met this week to discuss how to
keep the community safe.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill, Hollister Police Chief
Bill Pierpoint, California Highway Patrol Capt. Bob Davies and
county Emergency Services Director Margie Riopel met to discuss
strategy on how to spot any local terrorist activity and how to
deal with such an event.
With the threat of terrorism at its highest level in weeks, local law enforcement officials met this week to discuss how to keep the community safe.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill, Hollister Police Chief Bill Pierpoint, California Highway Patrol Capt. Bob Davies and county Emergency Services Director Margie Riopel met to discuss strategy on how to spot any local terrorist activity and how to deal with such an event.
The meeting was prompted by the federal Homeland Security Advisory System raising the threat level on Monday from yellow to orange, one step below the highest alert level of red, or severe.
Although most officials agreed that a terrorist attack on this area is unlikely, they are obligated by the elevated alert status to be prepared and more alert.
“This means our officers have to be more diligent and keeping a sharper eye out when they’re on patrol,” Pierpoint said.
He said officers who are already looking out for suspicious activity will “ratchet it up a notch” during the heightened alert, which could last throughout the conflict in Iraq.
Davies, commander of the Hollister-Gilroy CHP Unit, said the heightened alert has meant putting all of the unit’s 36 patrol officers on 12-hour shifts, canceling all days off and vacations.
“We’re mobilized and ready to go anywhere in the state,” Davies said. “Monterey CHP has already sent officers to Santa Cruz to help with the demonstrations.”
He said by stepping up patrols and keeping a high number of officers available at a moment’s notice provides “more eyes and ears” to be on the lookout for possible terrorist activity.
“We have identified locations that might be vulnerable so that our guys will be more diligent, and that way we’re going to be able to prevent things rather that just responding,” Davies said.
The increased alert includes local fire departments and other emergency service personnel.
“If something does happen, you’re going to see a tremendous amount of cooperation locally,” Davies said.
The heightened activity is not just going on locally. Steps are being taken across the country to protect possible terrorist targets from attack. They include random searches of cars at airports, restricted airspace over certain cities, protection of railroad bridges by police or National Guard troops, enhanced identification checks for truckers who haul hazardous materials and more Coast Guard escorts of ferries and cruise ships.
Security also is being increased at nuclear power plants, electric grids, subway systems and government buildings including the White House. In addition, the government is stepping up its tracking of the Internet for signs of terrorist activity and is boosting security at financial markets, banks and other economic centers.
Monitoring of the nation’s food supply also is being enhanced, including more inspections of imported food and Agriculture Department action to encourage greater scrutiny of feedlots, stockyards and storage areas.
A separate GAO report issued Tuesday found possible gaps in food supply security because guidelines for the industry are voluntary, not enforced or monitored by the Agriculture Department or the Food and Drug Administration.
Meanwhile, the FBI and other police agencies are implementing a broad anti-terrorism plan that includes diverting thousands of FBI agents away from regular duties to focus solely on the terror threat. FBI-led joint terrorism task forces will be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week during any war and perhaps longer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
