Safety: Los Angeles, Nanaimo

 
Los Angeles Port Police Chief Thomas Gazsi, left, with Officers Matthew O'Keefe, center and Miguel Cueva
Photo/Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles | Security recently swore in two new officers, Miguel Cueva and Matthew O’Keefe, both of whom earned top honors at the Los Angeles Police Academy. The addition of Officers Cueva and O’Keefe continues the Port Police’s efforts to hire diverse and qualified officers in order to ensure the safety and security of the nation’s busiest container port.

"During this challenging time in the law enforcement profession, we are excited to have these two extremely talented young officers join our ranks," said Port Police Chief Thomas Gazsi. "We look forward to their contributions to the force, as they join the nearly 130 sworn officers of our extraordinary Port Police, one of the finest maritime law enforcement agencies in the United States."

Born in Inglewood (CA), Officer Cueva served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves and as a community services officer for the El Camino College Campus Police. He earned the top Human Relations Award at the Los Angeles Police Academy during his training.

Officer Matthew O’Keefe was born and raised in Boston. At the police academy, he won the top academic award for his class. He was assigned as squad leader for the entire academy and graduated in that position.

Officers O’Keefe and Cueva now begin a six-month port law-enforcement-specific field-training program, administered under the guidance of a field-training officer. Once this training is completed, they will be assigned to the Port Police Patrol Operations Division.

In addition to its sworn officers, the Los Angeles Port Police includes 37 security officers and nearly 41 civilian professional staff. With its dedication to 24-hour port policing, the Los Angeles Port Police is responsible for maintaining the free flow of commerce in a safe, secure environment that promotes uninterrupted port operations.

Oil Spill Response Exercise Wraps Up in Nanaimo Harbor

Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) has wrapped-up a two-day oil spill response exercise in Nanaimo Harbor that ran from September 20 to 21.  As part of the exercise, equipment and vessels from WCMRC’s South Coast and Vancouver Island fleets deployed to a simulated spill in the harbor.

The unannounced exercise was a live, "on water" multi-agency effort and was designed to test WCMRC’s capacity for rapid response. It involved more than a dozen vessels and nearly 60 response personnel from diverse locations and with various levels of expertise. Among the participants were Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Nanaimo City, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and a contingent of support contractors. The Nanaimo Port Authority played a supporting role.

The scenario involved the hard landing of a cruise ship while approaching the berth resulting in a release of 2,000 metric tons of diesel mixed with fuel bunker and hydraulic fluid. WCMRC crews deployed to the scene, contained the casualty vessel, placed protection boom around sensitivities in the harbor and began containment sweeps.

Responding Agencies with Equipment and Live on the water activities in Nanaimo Harbor
Photos/Nanaimo Port Authority

"This exercise was a success on many levels," declared Port Authority President Bernie Dumas. "One of the biggest values of the two-day exercise was strengthening our relationship with our professional response team."

WCMRC is exploring the establishment of a new response base in Nanaimo on port property. The Nanaimo base would be part of a broader spill response enhancement program for Trans Mountain Pipeline. The enhancements would include five new response bases, approximately 115 new employees and approximately 26 new vessels at strategic locations along British Columbia’s southern shipping lane. Construction is dependent on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project moving forward. It is also contingent on Canadian Federal Cabinet approval, anticipated in December 2016.