October 5, 2016, Port Hueneme, CA – At its recent September Board meeting, the Port of Hueneme approved a total of $67,000 for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of specialized underwater equipment. $50,000+ will be reimbursed through one of the Port’s successful security grants and the balance of more than $17,000 will be funded by the Port directly. A portion of the Port’s grant application and subsequent award was outlined to help assist and provide the Port’s security stakeholders with equipment that would help better protect and secure the Port and its surrounding community.
“Public safety and excellence in public service is what the Port strives to achieve. I am extremely pleased to announce we have extended our partnership with the Sheriff’s Department and can allocate much-needed federal port security grant dollars to enhance our local law enforcement capabilities,” said Harbor Commissioner Jason Hodge who also serves as a Ventura County Firefighter.
The equipment specified for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office supports the Harbor District’s efforts as a responder to Port and maritime security, resilience and recovery efforts at the Port of Hueneme. The project includes underwater communication equipment for the dive team as well as an inflatable portable tent that can serve as an emergency operations center or incident command post. Sergeant Carl Patterson of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office noted, “This new and modern dive equipment will allow for diver-to-diver as well as diver-to-surface communications, thus enhancing diver safety and overall awareness of the dive operation.”
The funding provided by the District is part of the Port Security Grant Program for FY15. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office supports the Harbor District as a first responder, and this grant award will empower that organization to even better protect and secure the Port and its surrounding community. Over the last ten years more than $15 million has been invested in first responders for Port-related security equipment and programs which have multiple applications for the Port’s community partners.
