SPAWAR, San Diego law enforcement partner during force protection exercise

Photo By Rick Naystatt | 160204-N-UN340-001 SAN DIEGO (Feb. 4, 2016) First responders attend to a simulated casualty during a force protection exercise on board Naval Base Point Loma’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Old Town Complex (SPAWAR OTC). Government employees, military, federal and local law enforcement first responders participated in the joint training exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Rick Naystatt/Released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

02.04.2016

Story by Tina Stillions 

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)

SAN DIEGO - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) partnered with local law enforcement agencies in San Diego during a force protection exercise, Feb. 4.

"Today's drill was part of training to improve our own reactions and improve our coordination with local law enforcement agencies," said Rear Adm. Dave Lewis, SPAWAR's commander. "From my experience, today's training on run-hide-fight was right on the mark."

The force protection team included the San Diego Police Department's (SDPD) Emergency Negotiations Team (ENT). A unique, hybrid team of negotiators, the team is comprised of members from the SDPD, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

"We've worked collaboratively for many years to provide enhanced service capable of seamlessly crossing jurisdictional boundaries between the city, federal government and military," said San Diego Police Department Northwestern Investigations and Emergency Negotiations Team Sergeant Wes Albers. "The team has participated in joint military training operations for a number of years on bases all around San Diego."

Yesterday's training operation at SPAWAR, which also included members of the SDPD SWAT team and Western Division patrol officers, represented a significant collaborative step toward ensuring the safety of local citizens and further strengthened the security net that protects those who provide essential support to American assets deployed around the world.

During the scenario, personnel were instructed to either shelter in place or evacuate to another location, utilizing the run-hide-fight technique developed and approved by myriad federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security.

"We've provided tours for local law enforcement over the past few months to improve their familiarity with the specifics of our facility," said Lewis. "Today's exercise reinforced the effort to ensure we're all on the same page and prepared. After the training, I encouraged everyone to take the time to think about their individual work spaces and any actions they would take in the event of an active shooter scenario. "

The command occupies a facility that dates back to World War II when B-24 bombers were manufactured in San Diego. The main buildings are located across a sprawling complex. In many ways, they still resemble an industrial manufacturing plant, with concrete floors, high bays, ceiling windows and hangar doors from which bomber planes emerged. In an emergency scenario, the vast, cavernous complex creates a greater challenge for safety and security due to its size and vast expanse of office spaces. The force protection exercise was organized to assess any necessary facility improvement requirements beyond those already implemented or planned to help thwart these types of incidents said Lewis.

"Recent events worldwide have shown that there are no infrastructures immune from an attack," said Lt. William Carter, San Diego Police Department, Western Division. "An immediate mutual aid response by law enforcement and the ability to work together to stop a threat is critical to saving lives. The San Diego Police Department appreciates and welcomes the opportunity to prepare and train for critical incident response with our regional military security and DOD law enforcement. Despite being one of America's safest large cities, the San Diego Region must remain vigilant and prepared."

As the Navy's Information Warfare systems command, SPAWAR designs, develops and deploys advanced cyber communications and information capabilities. With more than 9,600 active-duty military and civil-service professionals located around the world and close to the fleet, SPAWAR is at the forefront of research, engineering, acquisition and support services that provide vital decision superiority to our forces from seabed to space.

For more news from Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/spawar/.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2016
• Date Posted: 02.08.2016 10:51
• Story ID: 188213
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US