A new shape of safety

Newport-Mesa public safety agencies can list myriad ways their day-to-day operations have changed in the five years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. First responders say they’re prepared and more alert than ever to the risk of a terrorist attack.

Most noticeably, local police and fire departments have placed an emphasis on terrorism training.

In past years, the risk of terrorism was always on the radar, but now it’s at the forefront of department training, Costa Mesa Fire Battalion Chief Scott Broussard said.

Some Newport Beach police officers are members of a county-wide terrorism task force established after Sept. 11, 2001, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Bill Hartford said. Officers have also undergone a bio-terrorism training class.

Even in Newport Harbor, where terrorism might seem far away, Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol deputies keep a close watch for anything out of the ordinary.

“There’s more sense of urgency and alertness with the deputies; they’re more mindful of things, anything suspicious,” Harbor Patrol Sgt. Fritz Von Rettberg said.

Deputies attend terrorism courses and are provided with chemical and biological warfare suits, in case they encounter any such situations, Von Rettberg said.

Unique to the Harbor Patrol are members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Dive Team. In addition to search and rescue, they’re now trained to look for anything suspicious on or around boats, Von Rettberg said.

The Urban Area Security Initiative allowed for funding to fire and police departments throughout Orange County, to provide for disaster response training and to secure and protect important structures — private and public buildings — from terrorist attacks, Newport Beach Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Schulz said.

Public safety employees are also required to complete training in the National Incident Management System, an organized response system that uses uniform language to keep first responders on the same page during an emergency.

After the 2001 attacks, the emergency communication 800-megahertz radio was upgraded so everyone could talk on common frequencies and communicate better, Schulz said. Interoperability between other law enforcement has also increased, Hartford said.

The Community Emergency Response Team program has also been enhanced with a terrorism component, Schulz said. Classes for the team have a waiting list of 300 people. Since Sept. 11, 2001, and recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, enrollment has been up, and interest is continually high, Schulz said.

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