L.A.'S FINEST TRAIN VS. TERROR.

Byline: Jason Kandel and Ryan Oliver Staff Writers

In the year following Sept. 11, Los Angeles police and fire officials have thrown out their old policy manuals and instituted new tactics, training and equipment to combat the growing threat of domestic terrorism.

Using Sept. 11 as the worst-case scenario - as well as the lessons learned from the mistakes and confusion in the World Trade Center response - emergency officials have been working feverously to make sure Los Angeles is as prepared as possible.

``Like everybody, we have to realize that it's all in degrees of preparedness. Nobody is 100 percent prepared for everything,'' said Assistant Chief Dean Cathey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. ``Can we deal with it? Yes. Can we deal with it effectively? I think so. Are we going to save everybody's lives? Probably not.

``But I think we're a lot farther along today than we were pre-Sept. 11.''

The LAFD has changed strategies, added staff and trained 70 firefighters in the defense against possible nuclear, biological or chemical attacks.

The Los Angeles Police Department has made similar changes, in addition to implementing a threat alert system and analyzing the security of government buildings, Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles.

It also has purchased an urban search and rescue vehicle and specialized equipment to immediately detect potentially deadly chemical or biological substances.

The LAPD has also upgraded its anti-terrorism division into a full-time operation. Previously, it was activated only for special events such as the Democratic National Convention or Lakers victory celebrations.

Despite the recent changes, police Cmdr. Mark Leap said Los Angeles has always been well-prepared.

``We were not that badly prepared for a terrorist attack before Sept. 11,'' Leap said. ``This whole region is much better prepared than most. ... California sets the standard for emergency response.''

As the guardians of an urban center with a long list of potential terrorist targets, the LAPD has identified 450 ``high risk'' sites such as religious centers, entertainment studios, sports venues and government buildings.

Leap said the department has developed a contingency plan for an attack on each target.

The LAPD also has inked a $133 million wish list that includes armored rescue vehicles, gas masks, protective suits, intelligence-gathering personnel and equipment, and more specialized training for responding to weapons of mass destruction.

The department will attempt to acquire federal grants to make those purchases.

``The first priority will be first-responder equipment and most of that is personal protective equipment,'' Leap said.

So far, only officers patrolling LAX and the subway system have been issued temporary gas masks that would allow them enough time to escape from a chemical attack.

LAPD officials have reviewed the report detailing the mistakes and shortcomings of the New York police and fire departments' response. Most of that was communication problems leaving many officers and firefighters confused and without clear orders.

As a result, Los Angeles police have issued 500 hand-held radios to the city's Fire Department. LAPD officers also have the Fire Department's operating frequencies programmed onto their radios.

``In New York, the Police Department and Fire Department do not operate well together,'' Leap said. ``That is not the case in Los Angeles.''

And after reviewing the response to the attacks on the World Trade Center, the LAFD has revised its policy for responding to high-rise disasters. Their new plan is to evacuate civilians and others before fighting any fire.

In addition to changes in department manuals, officials have boosted the Fire Department's ability to respond to major incidents with additional personnel, including more than 200 hazardous-materials personnel deployed at three stations around the city.

Since Sept. 11, the LAFD has devoted a battalion chief to work full time on Los Angeles County's terrorism early warning group. He has been responsible for helping analyze and potential threats and targets.

Officials have added fire prevention inspectors and equipment to stations across the city, and would make inspectors and equipment available in the event of an attack.

Officials have been holding monthly training sessions for the 70 members of the department's Urban Search and Rescue team, as opposed to quarterly sessions before Sept. 11, Cathey said.

Firefighters have trained on responses to weapons of mass destruction and, at the command level, officers have been devising operations, tactics and strategies with table-top exercises, simulation and role playing.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has also made changes since Sept. 11. The 18 members of the county's Urban Search and Rescue Team have been conducting collapse structure training and shoring drills, in which members build structures to keep a building from falling on firefighters while they are trying to make rescues.

They have been holding monthly terrorism training events, and high-rise helicopter rescues, and rappelling drills.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Above, LAPD firearms instructor Richard Kehr demonstrates a 37mm projectile launcher at the Ed Davis facility in Granada Hills. At left, diver Douglas Datria adjusts a scuba suit on a mannequin.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer