On paper, it reads like a prop list for a high-budget futuristic action thriller: a $3 million high-tech screening ship, a radiation-detecting helicopter and a badge-carrying black Labrador retriever, who can sniff out chemical and biological weapons.
But this is no movie. At the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex, these tactical tools represent the latest in artillery aimed to prevent weapons of mass destruction from infiltrating a critical infrastructure, where 40 percent of all U.S. imports enter the country. How critical is this port complex? Consider this: If an incident forced the port complex to be shut down, it would cost the U.S. economy about $1 billion a day, said Jack Ewell, who oversees the project for the L.A. Sheriff's Department.
“That would flat-out cripple the economy if all of these agencies weren't working together to ensure the safety of that complex,” he said. “We want to stop anything that may be illicit before it gets in the port.”
With cutting-edge detection technology, officials said, this project has not only upgraded collaboration efforts between the various agencies, but it also will enhance port security at the busiest container port in the nation.
“It's a critical tool for us ensuring that we're safe against the threat of terrorism,” said L.A. Port Police Chief Ron Boyd. “When it comes to detecting the threat, part of what you do is go out there and show the would-be attacker that you're ready.”
Tools of the Trade
The 55-foot screening vessel, armed with the most advanced technology available, is the first of its kind in the world. Called the Ocean Rescue II, the vessel can scan the hulls of ships entering the port complex, detect traces of weapons of mass destruction materials and transmit real-time data to land-based labs. The vessel also came equipped with medical and disaster response equipment, an advanced sonar system that can detect threats in zero-visibility waters and a rover that can dive up to 3,000 feet.
The detection process didn’t work this way in the past. Even with the portable bomb detection equipment, Ewell said, port authorities had no remote screening system, no chemical and biological detection tools, and couldn’t send real-time information back to the Sheriff's Department's hazardous-materials detail headquarters.
“Technology advances happen on a daily basis, and this equipment just did not exist years ago,” he said. “All of the agencies involved are constantly looking for what's new. If you're standing still, you're going backwards.”
It’s the combination of security resources that really optimizes the effort, he added. The Eurocopter AS350B2 Helicopter’s advanced radiation-detection pod, worth $220,000, allows authorities to screen ships from above. And the HAZMAT canine, named Johnny Ringo, is the only active dog in the world with a nose trained to track dangerous chemical and biological agents, said Detective Wayne Carpini, the dog’s handler.
Photo: Labrador Johnny Ringo and Detective Wayne Carpini work as a team to detect chemical and biological weapons. Photo courtesy of Carpini.
But adoption doesn’t happen overnight. The technology, Boyd said, must be folded into each agency’s concept of operations. Not only that but it must be maintained, otherwise, he said, it’s like having a Rolls-Royce in the driveway that doesn’t work even though you’re still paying a car note and insurance.
“It increases your responsibility,” Boyd said. “Now that you've spent all this money, you must make sure you’re maintaining the detection equipment correctly. We must make sure that after we've gotten proficient, these things don't break down and we suddenly have nowhere to go.”
Many Agencies, One Mission
The Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex is a Venn diagram of federal, state and local government jurisdictions. From the U.S. Coast Guard to local law enforcement and public safety departments, multiple agencies contribute to operations at the port. While new technology helps streamline the port security process, the first layer of defense is communication.
“We all have our own turf and interests,” Boyd said, “but we take the time to meet with each other and iron things out to make sure we're not stepping on toes.”
The agencies have been working together for years, Ewell said, developing a comprehensive, layered approach to security — especially in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The screening vessel was acquired by the Sheriff's Department, but this latest program came about as a joint effort, paid for by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“When you have everyone on the same page, the idea is that you can lessen the impact on maritime commerce and improve the ability to keep us safe by bringing resources together,” said Lt. j.g. Tyler Stutin, a spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard. “It's all about working together in this day and age more than ever.”
