Alameda supes accept grant for disaster training
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved $5.5 million in federal emergency preparedness funding for the Sheriff’s Office, most of which will go toward a controversial program that trains law enforcement for largescale disasters, mass shootings and terrorist attacks.
The supervisors also created a civilian task force to monitor the Urban Shield program for one year, ensuring that it does not bring a “military” mentality to local police departments or use counterterrorism rhetoric that targets Muslims, immigrants or African Americans.
Started in 2007 by Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern, Urban Shield has been criticized for years, prompting raucous debate at public meetings and inspiring dramatic protests from opponents who believe it promotes a military-style culture and use of violence against civilians.
In September, protesters chained themselves to the gates of the Alameda County Fairgrounds, where a weekend-long Urban Shield training took place.
More than 100 people packed the board chambers on Tuesday as the five supervisors weighed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant — $4.9 million of which would fund Urban Shield trainings this year, with the rest paying for new equipment.
Representatives from various Bay Area law enforcement and rescue agencies arrived in their uniforms, voicing support for trainings that they say helped gird for such catastrophes as the 2012 mass shooting at Oikos University and the Ghost Ship fire in December.
“We live in an area with a lot of daunting disaster risks,” said a speaker named Doug Sandy, who has worked in emergency management for 30 years. “We’re a prime target for terrorism because of the international visibility of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. We cannot afford to have our local agencies meet each other on the street for the first time when we have a major disaster.”
Opponents of Urban Shield said it’s an overzealous approach to law enforcement and brings weaponry to local police departments.
Past trainings have combined an intense focus on disaster relief with trade expos that showcase high-tech armor, drones and other gear.
“No one in this room would object to the need for emergency training, but we need to separate that from ‘militarization’ training,” said Susan Harmon of the antiwar group CodePink.
She and others fear that counterterrorism efforts taught by Urban Shield could be twisted for use during a Donald Trump administration to target immigrants, Muslims and Black Lives Matter activists as terrorist threats.
Ahern and the supervisors stoutly defended the program during the public hearing, saying they are capable of balancing the need for public safety with the importance of protecting civil liberties.
“The notion of 21st century policing is to have police work as guardians, not as warriors, and I know I support that,” said Supervisor Nate Miley, who backed the Urban Shield program.
“But sometimes, when lives are endangered, you need people who are brave enough to address those lifethreatening situations. Sometimes, like with the Ghost Ship, you need to have adequate training so everyone is on the same page.”