Training in Anaheim for terrorist attack prepares first responders for real trouble

Dispatchers participating successful a grooming workout Tuesday evening, Oct. 5, described a nightmare script implicit the radio:

Five equipped suspects had boarded a crowded Metrolink bid successful Norwalk that conscionable stopped connected the level astatine the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, adjacent Angel Stadium.

“This is simply a drill,” they calmly repetition connected a transmission shared by police, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Minutes later, a antheral with a firearm emerged from the beforehand car of the train. Bright muzzle flashes strobed crossed the dimly lit level arsenic helium took purpose and fired grooming rounds astatine Anaheim, Santa Ana and Amtrak constabulary officers, arsenic good arsenic Orange and Los Angeles County deputies responding to the staged violent attack.

Over the adjacent 3 hours, teams from Orange and Los Angeles counties worked unneurotic to neutralize the remaining actors posing arsenic gunmen.

They besides defused prop explosives, rescued volunteers pretending to beryllium hostages, and performed triage connected mock victims covered successful fake blood.

The simulated violent onslaught was acceptable up successful collaboration with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office and designed to propulsion exigency responders to their limits, said Anaheim constabulary Lt. Jon Kirkpatrick, who helped coordinate the exercise.

“We’re chiefly looking astatine the wide occurrence of the operation,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s little astir wagging a digit astatine immoderate idiosyncratic failings, and much astir seeing however good teams were capable to pass with each different to execute their objectives.”

It is captious that exigency responders from antithetic agencies physique relationships and larn to enactment successful performance with 1 different up of time, Amtrak constabulary Capt. Dario Robinson said.

“There could ne'er beryllium capable connections,” Robinson said. “Having an existent idiosyncratic to interaction alternatively of (just) a fig oregon an email code tin marque each the quality successful an emergency, wherever each 2nd matters.”

About 70 volunteers and 300 police, deputies, firefighters and paramedics participated successful the exercise, Anaheim constabulary Lt. Rich LaRochelle said.