By Laura DeKoven Waxman
May 16, 2011

The U.S. Conference of Mayors Vice President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano toured a new training center at the Port of Los Angeles April 25 and announced the expansion of the Department of Homeland Security’s "If You See Something, Say Something™" public awareness campaign to Los Angeles.

"To keep the Port of Los Angeles safe, we must invest in our personnel and provide them with the latest training tactics and procedures to be on alert for any signs of potential terrorism," said Villaraigosa. "The Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center will equip our state and local police with the knowledge and skills they need to perform their duties to keep our port secure."

The new training center will teach the country’s first maritime curriculum, which was specifically designed to train state and local law enforcement personnel and provide them with advanced instruction for crewmembers aboard law enforcement and public safety vessels operated by local authorities. Course curriculum includes boat handling, chart reading, and navigation rules. Additionally, students will receive comprehensive training on maritime boardings, arrest procedures, vessel identification, searches, and counter-terrorism practices and procedures.

The curriculum was approved by both the Department of Homeland Security and the California Emergency Management Agency. It is California Police Officer Standards and Training certified, consistent with current federal doctrine, and will be made available to municipal, county, state or federal law enforcement personnel who require maritime skill sets to perform their duties.

"Expanding the ‘If You See Something, Say Something™’ campaign in Los Angeles is an important part of our efforts to partner with the public to keep our country safe and resilient," said Napolitano. "The Department of Homeland Security is committed to working with the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in our ongoing efforts to strengthen security across Los Angeles and throughout the country."

Launched in 2010 by the Secretary, DHS’s "If You See Something, Say Something™" program is a national public awareness campaign that uses education materials, advertisements, and other outreach tools to engage travelers, businesses, community organizations, and public and private sector employees to remain alert and play an active role in keeping the country safe.

"We are honored that Secretary Napolitano is expanding the ‘If You See Something, Say Something™’ campaign to the port and the surrounding community," Villaraigosa said. "We all have a role to play in keeping our city and our country safe and I encourage all Angelenos to participate in this campaign."

DHS and Los Angeles will distribute "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign posters in English and Spanish throughout the city, with materials displayed throughout the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Transit System, the Port of Los Angeles, as well as police stations and fire stations.

Among those joining Villaraigosa and Napolitano at the port were Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles Port Police Chief Ronald Boyd, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca.