This alone makes Urban Shield the most daunting, pressure filled tactical training exercise in existence. 280-16. Without them, Urban Shield simply could not have happened. Its dark and smoky, and the lights are flickering. A coalition of anti-police groups, Muslim associations, and progressive politicians pushed the narrative that Urban Shield was furthering the militarization of law enforcement and the oppression of minorities. In 2017, nearly 5,000 volunteers participated in Urban Shield in a variety of ways. Critics say Urban Shield does not just help first responders prepare for the worst; they claim it is also training law enforcement for war against citizens. The secure and easy all-access connection to your content. Just ask those in the dozen communities with active shootings this year. Inside the hotel, amidst the buzz of the trade show, Alameda County Sheriffs Office spokesman J.D. But what this deputy said next brought everything into proper focus. They not only have to treat the wounded, making tourniquets and doing triage, they also have to navigate the terrorists that are still there. It brings together law enforcement agencies and first responders from across the country and world - including from the apartheid state of Israel - in order for them to learn how to better repress, criminalize, and militarize our communities. by Robert O'Brien It seems safety, like so many things, is in the eye of the beholder. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Scott Olsen, a war veteran who was seriously injured when he was hit in the head by a police projectile during the raid on Oct. 25, 2011, said he's disturbed by what he believes is a trend by law enforcement officials to "paint the public as the enemy. The secure and easy all-access connection to your content. The 48-plus hour exercise begins with a full day of extensive orientation, preparation, logistics, and setting of ground rules. He said protesters seem to be objecting most strongly to the increased use of armored vehicles by law enforcement agencies but said such vehicles sometimes are the safest way to respond to violent situations. Doing a quick search, I found a dozen active shootings across America, resulting in at least 80 gunshot deaths and 49 injuries. Nelson says that kind of situation is unacceptable. Urban Shield: Boston will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and conclude at 8 a.m. Sunday. I think the watershed moment was the North Hollywood shootout where the police were woefully outgunned.. But The Fight Isn't Over. Urban Shield is far more than merely a SWAT training exercise. Urban Shield is dead. Ill be a terrorist forever. But he has no need to worry -- the fake twitter and facebook this video are posted to are part of a closed system. Whats difficult about that, Tabassi says, is if it was really about emergency responders and rapid response, we wouldnt be finding tanks, tear gas, assault rifles.. Simulations like this are taking place at satellite locations across the Bay Area including the Oakland airport, local community colleges, and the Golden Gate Bridge. J.D. Protesters said they planned to have a rally and vigil at 5 p.m. and then march to Oakland City Hall for a dinner to mark the two-year anniversary of the police raid on Occupy Oakland. For the past eight years, one weekend in late summer brings first responders from across the country and around the world -- firemen, medics, SWAT teams and police officers -- to Alameda County for Urban Shield, one of the largest law enforcement training exercises in the country. About a dozen men wearing what look like gas masks and army fatigues are creeping along a line of caution tape. Youre in a dirty old building, the team came in -- after they shot me, threw me down, its bird poop in there. Tactics that would help deputies handle dangerous real-world situations. Johnson said the militarization of police is a symptom of what he described as "the post-9/11 security state at the expense of civil liberties.". Cephus Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant III, a Hayward man who was killed by a BART police officer at a station in Oakland four years ago, said there is only "a blurred distinction" between police officers and soldiers. Nelson said this is the seventh year his department has hosted Urban Shield and said its purpose is to train law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics on how to respond to natural disasters as well as man-made disasters such as explosions and mass shootings. Then, the sound of screams and the rat-a-tat of gunfire can be heard. ", Lawson said Urban Shield "is insane when we have so much violence already in our midst.". Two men armed with illegally-modified automatic weapons robbed a bank in Laurel Canyon. But kowtowing to anti-police sentiment was more important to them than giving their law enforcement officers the training to keep their constituents safe. For the past eight years, one weekend in late summer brings first responders from across the country and around the world -- firemen, medics, SWAT teams We respect your data and privacy. I had the privilege to observe Urban Shield in 2008, and I didnt see any oppression of minorities or Islamophobia. Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern warned the supervisors that adopting these recommendations would breach the agreement (contract) that the county had with the federal government for funding the training. Hornet aircraft carrier - a magnificent setting for honoring the 200-plus SWAT warriors from the 27 participating teams. 'Blackmail, My Love' shows SF's sordid homophobic past. Jamestown's urban environment reflects several cycles of reinvention in response to waves of social and economic change. Robert "Bob" O'Brien Cleveland SWAT Ret. Does Urban Shield = Police Militarization? Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices! They feel real. Twenty-seven SWAT teams, mostly from California but also from as far away as Boston and even France, were tested for 48-plus continuous hours by a series of 25 real-world, force-on-force scenarios. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. The exercise included about 2,000 personnel from the region including police, firefighters, EMTs and hospital staff. Today is the day for action, it is the day of rage today. Well thats because they might be a little bit on edge, because bad things happen, and do happen.. WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports. They are only training them to deal with us as enemy combatants, Johnson says. That, in fact, is the point: to put them through their paces by simulating a real attack. Everything feels real. I dont know what you are connected to I dont want to spoil any secrets, she says jokingly. KALW 91.7FM (@kalwradio) Instagram photos and videos, Protesters outside the Urban Shield trade show, Protestors claim Urban Shield militarizes law enforcement, Urban Shield training exercise at Moffett Field, Theater shooting scenario at Urban Shield, Theater shooting scenario at Urban Sheild. Bookmark +. The weapons are heavy, Baker says. October 25, 2013 / 5:25 PM It was funded through a counterterrorism grant program of the Department of Homeland Security, and included an annual militarized police . SUPPORTING AGENCIES Sheriff Ahern would like to acknowledge the following agencies whose dedicated staff members put in numerous hours of hard work to host a training scenario or an area command. Police access to heavier-caliber weapons is no longer difficult. 1, General Provisions, Art. Nelson said first responders from throughout the U.S. as well as from several foreign countries are participating in Urban Shield, which will last until Monday morning. Additionally, Urban Shield is extremely poor in the remaining two areas of Financial Factors and De-escalation. Urban Shield has grown into a comprehensive, full-scale regional preparedness exercise. Sandhya got her start as a reporting fellow at KALW, working on award winning radio documentaries about crime and justice and education in Oakland. Not once did I see even a hint of anything less than best efforts by any team or participant. OAKLAND (CBS SF) - A small group of people gathered in front of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Oakland Friday to protest the "Urban Shield" law enforcement disaster training event being hosted by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office at the hotel this weekend. But Urban Shield will still have a home in Alameda County, and that is why the protesters are still out here. This includes seven police officers killed in Oakland and Pittsburgh, with another three wounded. Nelson says that these days, police are tasked with protecting the public from domestic terrorism and mass shootings. It's the equivalent of handling 25 separate SWAT callouts, each with briefings and debriefings, all back to back, non-stop for 48-plus hours. Those who continue to try to say "It won't happen here" are living in denial of reality. Urban Shield: Boston will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and conclude at 8 a.m. Sunday. Bookmark +. On Saturday, May 3, the City of Boston's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will host Urban Shield: Boston, a 24-hour regional training exercise that simulates large-scale public safety incidents in the Metro-Boston area. According to Reich, UCPD currently intends to participate in this year's Urban Shield training, which will take place on September 9-12. / CBS Boston. They have no idea whats going to happen inside. VENDOR INFORMATION PARTICIPATION LEVELS VIDEOS REGISTER TRAINING REGISTRATION CONTACT September 6 - 10, 2018 Urban Shield has grown into a comprehensive, full-scale regional preparedness exercise. "It gives them the opportunity to think the unthinkable," said WBZ-TV Security Analyst Ed Davis. We respect your data and privacy. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb of the Facing Urban Shield Action Network said, "The whole mentality of Urban Shield is taking money away from affordable housing, health care and food stamps. Urban Shield throws these first responders into simulated scenarios out of the direst headlines: terrorist attacks, downed planes, and catastrophic natural disasters. BOSTON (CBS/AP) Emergency responders were staging a daylong training exercise involving a series of staged crises, from an "active shooting" event in Brookline to the rescue of elected officials held hostage at Boston City Hall. 280-17. Now, hes filming a video manifesto, set to be released after his death., Brothers, Baker says, looking directly into the camera. We offer in person firearms training and virtual training classes, as well as other resources to help facilitate . But shes keeping quiet about the details. I heard it more than once during the weekend, that this was a ground zero moment for policemilitarization: the 1997 North Hollywood shootout in Los Angeles. Reticular Activation System Group, LLC, aka RAS Group was founded in 2020 with the purpose of facilitation and dissemination of the preparedness mindset. In Ferguson, protesters took to the streets and the police cracked down with tanks and riot gear. The Oath Keepers, a right-wing extremist group, held a booth at the Alameda County Sheriff's Office's Urban Shield training program last week to "explain who they are," according to an . By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Medias Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent. On the last day of Urban Shield, I find myself inside a literal theater of war -- in an actual theater at Las Positas Community College in Livermore. Outside of the hotel on Broadway, protesters are gathering, taking over the street. ", Olsen said the militarization of police "won't stop unless it is stopped. But critics say practicing war games and raffling off rifles normalizes a military response from cops. But the ultimate compliment came from the ACSO deputies watching and supporting Urban Shield. This allowed the participants to focus fully on the training scenarios, knowing their ACSO liaisons "had their backs." They see the entire event as a training ground that turns police into an urban army -- the same militarization they say was on display in Ferguson, Missouri after a police officer shot and killed unarmed African American teen Michael Brown. The men turn the corner and enter into one of the ramshackle buildings, a dusty old barracks, that seems long-abandoned. More than 100 agencies and 5,000 people are participating in the event, Nelson said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The event allows participating agencies a practical opportunity to evaluate their tactical team's level of preparedness and ability to perform a variety of intricate first responder operations. VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are a vital part of Urban Shield. Heather Greenfield. Their chants also contain cheers of victory: Oakland mayor Jean Quan has said this will be the last year the Urban Shield trade show will be hosted in the city. I know firsthand how much preparation is needed for one training exercise. SWAT officers are assigned to serve high-risk warrants because they have special gear and training designed to protect them against deadly response from such suspects, and they can bring special equipment and weapons to intimidate a dangerous suspect into surrendering. Urban Shield was launched several years after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, which sheriff's officials said showed that law enforcement agencies weren't well prepared for such attacks.. Urban Shield is a comprehensive all-hazards training program for police, fire, hazmat, EMS and emergency management. But the event is also under attack, for being a model for militarization of the police. And he knew from last year's Urban Shield to expect more than a few "lumps and bruises" thanks to playing the role realistically. The terrorists have attempted to assassinate the judge, shooting at everyone. This scenario has a domestic terrorist group storming the stage where a judge was giving a speech. Anyone who needs justification for why we train for the "unthinkable" need look no further than Fort Hood, Texas, and the other dozen deadly active shootings that have occurred in 2009 - so far. Inside the building, orders are yelled. - Mar 1, 2019. These deputies also played an equally important role by guarding the participating teams. In addition, ACSO deputies were assigned as liaisons to each of the 27 participating teams, handling logistics and driving donated vans to the 25 scenario locations scattered across three counties. The 11 staged public safety scenarios are based on past real-life events and include an "explosive device" found in the transit system, an "injured officer" situation in Cambridge and a "parking lot collapse" in Boston. Penalties for offenses. In addition to guns and gear, there are also tools aimed at crowd control. Thats a valid point, says Nelson. Truthfully, the people who scream about militarized law enforcement just want to disarm you. You can just make out the shapes of detached prosthetic limbs and the supine bodies of actors playing dead scattered across the stage. Urban Shield. "This realistic on the street type of incident driven training makes all of the difference in the world.". last year the Urban Shield trade show will be hosted, they say was on display in Ferguson, Missouri, 1997 North Hollywood shootout in Los Angeles. (TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. Equally impressive were all 200+ participants from the 27 competing SWAT teams. by David Griffith They have improved their teamwork, bolstered their confidence, and learned to stay in the fightregardless of fatigue, pain, or injury-until the hostages are rescued and the tangos are down.. So in late February the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to transform Urban Shield into something else. When you take officers who are supposed to protect and serve normal citizens, and you give them military training, then you are not training them to deal with citizens. I think as a society that people say, We cant have that. Ethan Baker played a mock terrorist who was killed during the raid. Observers also found that the ACSO seemingly willfully ignored the 12 Principles and Guidelines, as the Urban Shield weapons expo and training scenarios were in violation of the majority of the guidelines. The Chadakoin River exemplifies this evolution. You know your face is in bird poop, youre lying there everythings real except youre not bleeding.. Still, he says playing a mock terrorist conjured up some very honest adrenaline. We anticipate the need for a similar number of volunteers for 2017. Heres how I summed up the experience in a feature for the November 2008 issue of POLICE titled Best Training Anywhere: Over the weekend, I have seen dozens of SWAT officers run through complicated scenarios and gain hands-on time with new police technologies and products. The event includes 54 training scenarios in Dublin, Livermore, Castro Valley, San Leandro, Oakland, Alameda, Newark, Fremont, Menlo Park, Foster City, San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Bruno and Richmond. The 24-hour training exercise on Saturday, dubbed "Urban Shield," is meant to simulate large-scale public safety incidents. The anti-police activists didnt disarm the law enforcement officers of Northern California when they killed Urban Shield. What this device does is it projects this very loud, high-pitched noise, very loud, to where if you didnt have ear protection it would cause you to want to leave. From participants to support personnel and observers, Urban Shield is an unparalleled tactical learning experience that better prepares all of us for the inevitable "unthinkable." Upcoming columns will feature more Urban Shield - from scenarios to tactics. The goal of the exercise is assess the ability of public safety personnel to successfully respond to, and manage, multiple public safety threats and emergencies occurring simultaneously throughout the metropolitan Boston area. We would be hurting right now, if it was on.. The river has played many distinct roles in the city's development: as a power source, industrial sewer, transportation route, and now as a recreational . The 48-hour SWAT competition and emergency operations exercise organized by the Alameda County (CA) Sheriffs Office was some of the best first-responder training available, and it was killed by Northern Californias anti-police activists. J.D. And finally, any exercise involving police would emphasize de-escalation. But what about scenarios that are not terrorism or mass shootings, like the protests in Ferguson? Alameda Sheriff's detective Pat Smythe points to a huge speaker standing in the middle of the convention center floor. I've never seen such a high level of enthusiastic, unwavering support from so many people. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The other piece of propaganda that the anti-SWAT folks used against Urban Shield was the argument that police are becoming too militarized. Smythe says it is a noise continuation device, for maybe some riot situation. For example, ACSO deputies were present at each of the 25 sites to run the exercises. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. TRAINING REGISTRATION URBAN SHIELD VENDORS Training for the "unthinkable" is what Urban Shield is all about because the "unthinkable" can, and does, happen. 2022 POLICE Magazine. seriously injured when he was hit in the head by a police projectile during the raid on Oct. 25, 2011, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. The law enforcement convention and the protest are occurring on the second anniversary of the police raid at the Occupy Oakland encampment that was erected in 2011. I've never been more proud of the law enforcement profession. Compliments that included improving their own tactical skills by watching the variety of tactics employed by the different teams. But does a more militarized police force help increase -- even engender-- a more violent response from an equally anxious public? Nelson said the militarization of police "has happened since the beginning of time," noting that technology developed in the Civil War and World War II was used by police officers after those conflicts. A small group of people gathered in front of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Oakland today to protest the "Urban Shield" law enforcement disaster training event being hosted by the Alameda County . All 27 teams are a credit to SWAT everywhere. They also argued that because the event was held each year around the anniversary of 9/11 and many of the scenarios involved terrorism that it was inherently Islamophobic. ", The Rev. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Alameda County SO, especially Sheriff Gregory Ahern and the hundreds of his ACSO personnel. The amount of logistical preparation required for each location is mind boggling. Here in Oakland, police stand at the edges, watching the crowd cheer on speakers like Reggie Johnson. The scenario today is: a terrorist event happens, here at Moffett Field, with repercussions around the entire Bay Area, says Corinne Bartshire. They say being prepared is the best weapon against chaos. JURA Executive Secretary/. The Frisco Five Helped Oust A Police Chief. Which is terribly sad. In fact, inside the Urban Shield trade show, one of the raffle prizes was an AR-15. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office, which runs the event, says it is first-hand training for our worst nightmares. [HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Jamestown 9-10-1990.EN Sections 280-2 and 280-17 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. The training provided by Urban Shield would seem like a valuable asset that the elected officials of Alameda County would want to maintain for their first responders, especially in an era of lone wolf terrorism and active shooters. Activists who oppose the training exercise made much of the task force's determination that it was in no position to accomplish its community relations goals. When all was said and done, the robbers were dead and seven civilians and eleven police officers lay injured. Nelson says someone needs to be prepared to protect citizens. The cops couldnt match their firepower, so officers had to commandeer AR-15 rifles from a local gun dealer. All Rights Reserved. Haystax Powers Successful Urban Shield Training Exercise For the fourth year in a row, Haystax has supported a successful Urban Shield exercise which was held in the San Francisco Bay Area, September 11-14. By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Medias Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent. The 48-hour SWAT competition and emergency operations exercise organized by the Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office was some of the best first-responder training available, and it was killed by Northern California's anti-police activists. Director of Development/. Urban Shield takes place in the Bay Area on the weekend of 9/11 each year, and is a war games training and weapons expo that involves international and local law enforcement agencies and emergency responders. The exercise ended with an equally full day of activities including classes and a vendor show culminating with an awards ceremony and banquet aboard the WWII Navy U.S.S. Thats their only goal. While those scenarios play out, the Oakland convention center at the downtown Marriott Hotel is playing host to the Urban Shield trade show. Also, instead of being a primarily terrorism-focused event, the exercises would be about earthquakes and other natural disasters. Every scenario is based on a real-world event. They say that SWAT should be reserved for hostage incidents and active shooters and not be used to serve warrants against suspected drug dealers in minority neighborhoods. About fifteen long minutes later the SWAT team emerges from the building, weapons drawn, with fake terrorists in handcuffs. concerns about the Urban Shield. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. November 19, 2009 I think they want all officers to look like they spend all day looking for lost dogs. They are an actual SWAT team from Monterey County. JLDC Executive Director. 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But they certainly deprived them of an excellent training event that also benefited hundreds of other first responders. So, I can only imagine how much preparation would be required for 25 training exercises. As a police review commissioner, I observed the Urban Shield exercises last September. 280-15. GET A DEMO PLATFORM SOLUTIONS For School Safety For Event Security For Law Enforcement For Emergency Management For Fire Safety Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices! (Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. What I did see was some really intense law enforcement training. Tabassi says the same companies that make the weapons of war are now marketing directly to local law enforcement -- turning the military-industrial complex into the police-industrial complex. Urban Shield is a unique tactical training exercise involving thousands of hours of planning and preparation. Urban Shield is a national war games, SWAT training and weapons expo, held each year in Alameda County, with exercises all over the Bay Area, and attended by hundreds of local, federal and international agencies. She reported on the 2012 presidential election in Iowa, for Iowa Public Radio, where she also covered diversity and mental health issues. Urban Shield 2009 Dedicated to Oakland's Fallen Officers. May 3, 2014 / 6:15 PM And the feds in the form of the Department of Homeland Security yanked the $1.7 million grant provided through the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative that helped pay for Urban Shield. Urban Shield is far more than merely a SWAT training exercise. Urban Shield training stripped of SWAT training, vendor show by county officials. Bartshire is explaining why Moffett Federal Field in the South Bay looks today like a scene out of a Hollywood summer blockbuster -- with a mock terrorist event, and a real SWAT team. Bartshire is with the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative, an organization funded by the federal government to coordinate homeland security in the region. And thats a terrible loss. Emergency work. Urban Shield was launched several years after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, which sheriff's officials said showed that law enforcement agencies weren't well prepared for such attacks. All Rights Reserved. They are here. SWAT teams and first responders roam through aisles packed with vendors selling everything from weapons to riot gear. The police cannot get outgunned and be victims.. This particular scenario is also testing how the police interact with the media, and how well they can control the information that spreads like wildfire in the mock cyberspace Urban Shield has created. Financial Coordinator. All rights reserved. / CBS San Francisco. "What you saw in the Boston Marathon, there was multiple victims, and a lot of need for medical aid quickly, and that's what we are trying to test," said Cambridge Police Lt. George Sabbey. And like lightning in a thunderstorm, you never know where or when the next strike will occur. He said he was there to learn how to be a better road deputy, and what better training than learning from SWAT? On Tuesday, March 27th, the Stop Urban Shield coalition put an end to the largest militarized SWAT training in the world. "It gives them the opportunity to think the unthinkable," said WBZ-TV . His role included physically resisting SWAT. Urban Shield officials say their training is all about disaster prep, but activists like Tara Tabassi are not buying that argument. Upcoming columns will feature more Urban Shield - from scenarios to tactics. I can only imagine the countless hours of preparation and training each of these SWAT teams and warriors spent. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ive been reading about this topic for the last 19 years, and Ive yet to hear anyone define it. But they voted to do so anyway. (716) 483-7659. surdyk@jamestownny.gov. The Associated Press contributed to this report.). I'm not sure I've ever met anyone that eager to get "slam dunked" - not just once, but 14 times, at the hands of different SWAT teams. The centerpiece of Urban Shield is a two-day SWAT team competition that requires teams to complete dozens of high-fidelity, high-realism missions. And when you normalize something you make it the norm. Thanks to the Alameda County (Calif.) Sheriff's Office, I was privileged to observe Urban Shield 2009. April 2, 2019 VENDOR / SPONSOR PARTICIPANT INFORMATION URBAN SHIELD VENDORS Copyright 2018. Critical Resistance Oakland is a founding member of Stop Urban Shield, a broad coalition of organizations that came together in 2013 to end Urban Shield, which was the largest SWAT training in the world. The death of Urban Shield is just one more example of anti-police groups vilifying SWAT. Urban Shield is dead. Ironically, Bakers real job is in anti-terrorism. Crystal Surdyk. II. Adopting the recommendations of an ad hoc committee that probably included very little police input, the supervisors decided that Urban Shield would no longer be called Urban Shield and that what replaced it would no longer involve SWAT and no longer be a competition. Boston PD Hearkens Back to Urban Shield Training During Marathon Attacks By Edward F. Davis III If you spend any time around Urban Shield, there is one word you hear a lot: scenario. ), First published on October 25, 2013 / 5:25 PM. 2022 POLICE Magazine. I can't say enough about ACSO's enthusiastic high level of professionalism from top to bottom. The situations are all mock events, complete with actors and even stage makeup, but these trained, professional first responders treat them as if they are real. A member of the TREXPO Advisory Board, Sgt. An Evolving Landscape. They have completed this part of the training, but its not over yet. These people are either ignorant or they want to see more dead cops and dead alleged drug dealers. 00:00. Urban Shield has grown into a comprehensive, full-scale regional preparedness exercise. After all, he asks, what is the alternative? The SWAT team has to figure out who is who, rescue the innocent, and capture -- or shoot -- the guilty. SWAT Privacy Policy Among the items that were developed during wars that were later used by police officers were bulletproof vests and radio communications, Nelson said. Every ACSO officer I met or saw was a credit not only to ACSO, but also to the entire LE profession. They provide critical training for first responders that Berkeley needs. However, there's far more to Urban Shield. They have fought battles in train cars, on sweltering aircraft, in cramped industrial sites, in crowded school buildings, and on moving boats. Baker laughs at the strange role he is playing: This will end up on the internet. I understand people say, Well, you didnt talk to me very nicely at first. They want such high-risk warrants to be served by cops in standard uniform. Since 2007 this event has offered some of the finest scenario-based training to police, firefighters, and emergency medical professionals in the Bay Area. All Rights Reserved. Urban Shield Training September 6 - 10, 2018 Urban Shield has grown into a comprehensive, full-scale regional preparedness exercise. Each scenario designed to test officers' tactical skills and teamwork to the limit was scored and timed, with points deducted for mistakes. There's also an exceptionally physically and mentally demanding fitness and obstacle course involved. The move eliminates SWAT deployment exercises and the event's vendor show, which showcases law-enforcement gadgets and weaponry, among other things. The 24-hour training exercise on Saturday, dubbed "Urban Shield," is meant to simulate large-scale public safety incidents. Activists claim SWAT is a sledge hammer used to oppress people of color. We take out our grievances on those that have impressed them upon us. I was impressed with the enthusiasm, professionalism, and abilities displayed by each participant and team. Someone shouts out that the scenario is active. Whether full time or part time, this amount of preparation undoubtedly requires a tremendous amount of personal time and effort. From participants to support personnel and observers, Urban Shield is an unparalleled tactical learning experience that better prepares all of us for the inevitable "unthinkable.". Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Urban Shield proponents say a scenario like this -- a shooting in a theater -- could happen at anytime. Staff Members and Contact Information. Disposal of urban forest products. J.D. What would seem to be docile situations turn very violent very quickly nowadays; the propensity of violence and guns in the communities is far greater than it was even 20 years ago. ", Gottlieb said Urban Shield training is creating "the militarization of police" and said it means "the war is coming home to our streets.". We will strike down upon you, we will be back.. According to the City: On Saturday, the area will host Urban Shield: Boston, a 24-hour training exercise that simulates large-scale public safety incidents in the metro-Boston area. If thats going to be your course and say you dont want the police to be militarized and were going to wait for the military to handle those problems, Nelson says, I dont think the people would be acceptable to that.. One deputy I talked with at orientation told me that for the next two days he'd volunteered to roleplay a "bad guy" for one of the scenarios. Nelson says police face an increasingly dangerous landscape across the spectrum. So RIP Urban Shield. The shooting locations have occurred from cities (large, medium, small) to rural - and now a military base. Phil Lawson, a retired United Methodist pastor, said, "Having Urban Shield in Oakland is a sign of insanity. Inside, mock terrorists armed with fake guns lie in wait with mock hostages. In addition, it has fostered camaraderie among dozens of tactical law enforcement units from California, other U.S. states, and U.S. allies overseas. We believe that mindset is the most important aspect of a prepared individual. is the founder of the R.J. O'Brien Group Ltd., a law enforcement training and consulting service that advises and trains a number of local, state, and federal SWAT teams. PLEASANTON, CA - Twenty three protesters were arrested for civil disobedience outside the nation's largest first responder exercise known as Urban Shield, held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Interference prohibited. Sitting in the balcony with law enforcement officials and a film crew from HBO, I watch as a SWAT team from Texas heads into the lower level seats and makes their way to the stage. 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