The nation has had two years to mull over the consequences of
Sept. 11, 2001, and to get a picture of how lives have changed.
Besides the heightened awareness of regular citizens, those trusted
with the public
’s safety find their lives altered even more. Morgan Hill’s
chief of police, city manager and a fire department captain talked
Thursday about changes in the way they do their jobs.
The nation has had two years to mull over the consequences of Sept. 11, 2001, and to get a picture of how lives have changed. Besides the heightened awareness of regular citizens, those trusted with the public’s safety find their lives altered even more.
Morgan Hill’s chief of police, city manager and a fire department captain talked Thursday about changes in the way they do their jobs.
City Manager Ed Tewes is responsible for the safety of city employees and the 35,000 residents as well, since the chief of police eports to him.
“As an employer we have a heightened level of concern about employee security issues,” Tewes said. “We have had workshops on how they can secure their workplace.
“As public officials, Sept. 11 gives us a chance to reflect on the importance of the work we do. It gives us a sense of mission in providing public service. Today (Sept. 11) allows us to come together as a community.”
Tewes said he wasn’t quite prepared to describe how Sept. 11, 2001, had changed his life personally. “I need to think about that for awhile,” he said.
The perspective from the fire department reflects both a connection to New York’s public service workers who quickly became the nation’s heroes and attention to details closer to home.
Santa Clara County Fire Department Capt. George Hurst led firefighters from the Morgan Hill stations at El Toro and Dunne/Hill to Thursday’s Patriot Day ceremonies.
Hurst said that since Sept. 11, 2001, firefighter training has changed a lot.
“Our training has gone through the roof,” Hurst said. “As a fire department we created a special ops (operations) force to prepare for terrorist attacks and other incidents.”
Hurst said the department countywide has a minimum of 15 people a day trained to handle hazardous materials in confined spaces, in trench rescue and for searching in collapsed buildings as well. Additional equipment helps make the firefighters safer, he said.
“Even line firefighters have normal air packs plus special respirators,” Hurst said. “They (the respirators) would have helped the NYPD.”
From a personal perspective, Hurst said he looks at the world differently now.
“I’m more empathetic toward other societies and other peoples’ values,” Hurst said. “It opens your eyes to why people don’t like us – at the governmental level.”
Hurst usually works from the SCCFD’s Seven Springs station in Cupertino, home of the SCCFD haz mat unit.
Morgan Hill Chief of Police Jerry Galvin said things have indeed changed, with a renewed emphasis on county OES (Office of Emergency Services) responsibilities.
“We have a new sensitivity to both natural and manmade disasters,” Galvin said. “We are sensitive to areas in the city where we could be vulnerable – Anderson Dam, the water pumping station and some businesses that do defense contract work.”
Galvin said there is more grant money available now to increase security and for the Medical Reserve Corps, a local volunteer group that would triage patients in time of disaster. To triage is to sort out the priority of casualties’ need so the most seriously injured can be treated first.
Galvin was out of town Thursday and missed the Patriot’s Day ceremony. Instead he was meeting with other county chiefs of police discussing how to deal with homeland security, the FBI and how to keep a legal eye on groups that might be supporting terrorism.
“Lots of local money (Santa Clara County) is leaving and going to Middle Eastern countries,” Galvin said.
Communication is an area that can fall apart quickly when major disasters occur. Galvin said the chiefs are working on keeping that from happening through cooperation and sharing lines of communication.
“Pursuit running down a freeway can go through different jurisdictions,” he said. “There is an emphasis on cooperation much more than before.”
Personally Galvin considers the United States to be in a state of war again.
“Being a Vietnam vet I personally have real concern for the soldiers and Marines in Iraq,” he said. “We are losing soldiers and Marines on a regular basis.”
Galvin said it reminds him of losses in Vietnam.
“I have never forgotten their names,” he said. “I remember every one like it was yesterday. Most veterans remember.”
