County Plans Anti-Terrorist Safeguards

Reinforced concrete barriers will be placed around Ventura County Jail, shatterproof office windows will be installed at the Government Center and the Sheriff’s Department will double its intelligence-gathering staff to help guard against terrorist attacks.

Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks outlined these added security measures in a presentation Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.

Brooks said his department will also buy protective suits for deputies called to respond to possible chemical attacks or bioterrorism and take part in training exercises to prepare for such incidents.

Sheriff’s deputies have been on heightened alert since the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon, sending extra patrols to high-risk locations, such as utilities. But even more needs to be done, Brooks said, because government buildings are a target for terrorism.

The concrete barriers will be installed outside the Main Jail in Ventura to prevent vehicles from crashing into buildings. Similar posts, about 3 feet high, are already in place outside the Hall of Administration.

Office windows will be coated with a protective glazing that causes glass to shatter into small pieces instead of more dangerous shards. Sheriff’s officials, working with other agencies, will assess the need for additional measures at other county facilities.

Brooks plans to change two deputy positions to senior deputy classification. This will allow him to immediately fill those positions with terrorism-threat assessment investigators.

The Sheriff’s Department already has two intelligence investigators, but needs a new team dedicated to checking out tips and other information about possible terrorist threats, Brooks said.

Investigators would check on groups or individuals identified as extremists, anarchists or members of a hate group, the sheriff said.

County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston said the initiatives would require no new funding, because budgets would be shifted to reflect the new priorities.

“This is an additional burden on public safety, but we can deal with it for now within our budget,” he said.

A Terrorist Working Group has been meeting since 1998 and has been on alert since the recent attacks, Brooks said. The group comprises representatives of the county’s Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department and two military bases, along with public health officials and members of the FBI. They meet to discuss ways to respond and coordinate efforts in event of a major disaster.

Training of deputies and firefighters is also important since they are usually the first to respond to emergencies, he said.

Two training exercises are scheduled for next month, including a bioterrorism drill Nov. 5. A statewide training of emergency medical personnel is set for Nov. 15, officials said.