|
Monterey Park — Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has reorganized his department to place greater resources to protect public transportation in Los Angeles County from potential terrorist threats. Recognizing the potential threat to public transportation, as witnessed in terrorist attacks in Madrid and London, the Sheriff has taken the proactive step of reassigning the department’s Transit Services Bureau, which provides security and law enforcement services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to the Sheriff’s Homeland Security Division. The new organization was effective in November 2005 and is among the first agencies in which police services for a transportation system have been organized under homeland security auspices. “This new organization will improve the coordination of information and more directly involve those law enforcement personnel, with those who are most at risk of terrorist threats, directly in our overall counter-terrorism strategy and preparation efforts,” said Sheriff Baca. According to Chief Sandra Hutchens, head of the Sheriff’s Homeland Security Division, investigators from the Sheriff’s Arson and Explosives Detail will be stationed at MTA headquarters to enhance information and responses to potential threats. Additionally, the Transit Services Bureau will play an enhanced role on the multi-agency Terrorism Early Warning (TEW) group, the primary intelligence gathering organization in Los Angeles County. |
Sheriff Baca spent the week of January 9th in London, England along with Paul Lennon, Director of Intelligence and Emergency Services for the MTA; and Dan Finkelstein, Commander of the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau, for briefings and analyses of British response and preparation following the attack on public transportation last year. The timing of the reorganization is complemented by an announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on January 3rd that $765 million in direct funding for high threat urban areas as part of the 2006 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). UASI provides resources for the unique equipment, training, planning, and exercise needs of select high threat urban areas. Much of these funds will be used to enhance the security of public transportation and the ports in Los Angeles County. For 2006, DHS has identified 35 areas eligible to apply for and receive funding, down from 50 areas in 2005. These 35 areas encompass 95 cities with populations of 100,000 or more. This year’s formula emphasizes building greater regional capabilities across a geographic area in high risk areas, as opposed to the more general distribution of previous years that provided funds to very low risk communities. More than $2.1 billion has been allocated through UASI since the 2003 fiscal year. Since 9/11, $8.6 billion has been provided in overall grant funding to states and territories to enhance first responder capabilities in preventing, protecting and responding to acts of terrorism. |