Police Heightening Security After Boston Bomb Blasts
Video by Sean Patrick Lewis
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said the LAPD will increase officer deployments at sporting events in response to the two explosions that killed at least two and injured more than two dozen others at the Boston Marathon on Monday.
LAPD is taking precautionary measures in response to the explosions.
They have increased patrol and security around Dodgers Stadium at Monday night's game. All officers have been advised to have a heightened awareness while on partol.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is also heightening security after the two explosions at the Boston Marathon and one at the JFK Library.
"The heightened alert at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department includes increased patrols to create a more visible presence where people congregate, such as government buildings, shopping centers, athletic events, and public transit," said Sheriff Lee Baca. "Partnering with local police and public safety agencies and other countywide efforts have been enhanced, including opening the Sheriff's Department Operations Center to maximize communication."
Sheriff Lee Baca encourages the public: 'If You See Something, Say Something.'
The Los Angeles Metro is also on heightened alert Monday. Metro passagers will see an increase in officers from the Sheriff's Department, which provides security for the Metro system. Increased measures may include bomb sniffing dogs at Union Station and other Metro facilities.
"LA County EOC [Emergency Ops Center] is not activated. #LASD actively monitoring, but no activiation of Emergency Operations Center," Bill Fujioka, Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer tweeted.
Police at three major Los Angeles airports, including Los Angeles International Airport, were in a "heightened state of vigilance," with increased officers to make it visible that more police were on duty Monday, said Chief of Airport Police Patrick Gannon.
"Well at this time airport operations are running smoothly," said Katherine Alvarado, LAX Spokesperson. "We are always on heightened security whether through our random checkpoints or uniformed officers throughout the terminals. Right now everything is running smoothly and security operations are normal."
The LAPD also said as of right now they have no further information about any connection between these explosions and Los Angeles and that there are no known threat to Los Angeles at this time.
