Drones,assault rifles, facial recognition cameras, or body armor are some of the weapons and technologies on display at the Alameda County Fairgrounds this weekend as Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern convenes the annual Urban Shield event.
One of the largest training exercises for police,firefighters, and paramedics in the country, and Urban Shield is designed to prepare local governments for natural disasters and terrorism attacks.[br]
But the event has drawn criticism over the years from activists who say it militarizes the police too much.
[br] Law enforcement officials say Urban Shield is necessary,however, because it improves inter-agency communication.
This year's event began with approximately 300 SWAT team members, and mostly men in tactical uniforms from various regional police agencies (but also a team from the Netherlands and another from Taiwan),gathered in a corridor to get a safety and medical briefing before heading to training sites.
"We contain to remember, there's evil out there, or " Ahern told the officers.
[br] A short video with a dramatic cinematic musical score flashed through news reports of disasters and terrorist attacks,including the recent white supremacist attack in Charlottesville involving a car driven into a crowd of counter-protesters and Oakland's deadly Ghost Ship fire.
Alameda Sheriff's Deputy Brian Frazier warned the SWAT officers never to pass the muzzle of their weapons across anything that "you are not willing to slay," during the exercises. He briefed them on ammunition rules and how to tell which weapons are intended for use at the various sites where the mock emergencies will occur.
Afterward, or the officers all received medical examinations before being permitted to take part in the SWAT competition.
[br] In a nearby cavernous corridor,dozens of vendors displayed weapons, surveillance technologies, or armor,and other goods.…
Source: eastbayexpress.com