Long Beach
Fire Department

Fire Headquarters
3205 Lakewood Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90808
(562) 570-2500
3/28/2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 03282018A
Subject:
Active Shooter Exercise in Port of Long Beach Enhances Operational State of Readiness
Multiple agencies came together today to train and exercise our operational state of readiness for an active shooter incident in the cruise terminal located at the Port of Long Beach.
Contact:
Jake Heflin
(562) 760-6950
Jacob.Heflin@longbeach.gov
Firefighter/Paramedic/PIO
Long Beach Fire Department
Jaime Ruiz
(202) 534-8622
Jaime.I.Ruiz@dhs.gov
Branch Chief, Northern/Coastal Branch, Office of Public Affairs
United States Customs and Border Protection

Today, multiple agencies came together to train and exercise our operational state of readiness for an active shooter incident in the cruise terminal located at the Port of Long Beach. Representatives from the United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Coast Guard, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, Los Angeles Port Police, Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center, and various volunteers from local nursing programs and the Long Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) participated in the day long training exercise.

Multiple evolutions prepared both firefighters and law enforcement personnel on the tactics and strategies that would be necessary to handle an incident of this complexity. Based on multiple lessons learned from other “active shooter” incidents throughout our nation, it is essential that quick action is taken to eliminate the threat and provide immediate lifesaving intervention. Thus, the seamless interaction between arriving law enforcement and fire department personnel must happen quickly and systematically. 

The use of a Rescue Task Force (RTF) in which law enforcement provides force protection for firefighters as they render emergency medical care in a very dynamic situation will save lives. Bleeding control is essential in minimizing mortality rates for those suffering traumatic injuries sustained during these types of incidents. Both law enforcement officers and firefighters have received extensive training in dealing with these situations and today’s exercise was a unique opportunity to bring all these agencies together to test these skills.

Valuable training like this is essential for public safety. Although we hope this never happens here in our City, we are ready for these types of situations. The more we work together in a training environment, the more capable and prepared we are as a team to handle and manage these complex incidents. We take this responsibility very seriously and work diligently to make sure that multi-agency interaction and lines of communication are clear, direct, and timely. Lives depend on it.

 About Long Beach Fire Department

The mission of the Long Beach Fire Department is to protect lives, property, and the environment, improving the quality of life and safety of the community and our visitors. For more information, please visit us at www.longbeach.gov/fire, "Like" us on Facebook, follow uson Twitter and Instagram.