US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa officially inaugurated a new maritime security training center at the Port of Los Angeles Monday, aimed at boosting security at the nation's ports.
The new $16.1 million Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center, the first of its kind in the US, will offer five-week training programs to law enforcement personnel from across the nation in such maritime security disciplines as arrest procedures, boardings, maritime counter-terrorism operations, and vessel searches.
The main training course is based on curriculum developed by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and was jointly developed by the will be developed jointly by FLETC staff, the Long Beach Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Los Angeles Port Police.
Villaraigosa said that to keep ports safe and secure, "we must invest in our personnel and provide them with the latest training tactics and procedures to be on alert for any signs of potential terrorism."
Basic training in boat handling skills, chart reading and navigation rules will also be provided at the center by the California Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
