Los Alamos County leaders saw demonstrations on how the Laboratory’s security force protects assets at the Lab during a recent visit.
County councilors, County Administrator Max Baker, Los Alamos Police Chief Wayne Torpy and other county government officials toured the Protection Technology Los Alamos shoot house last week.
“Since 9-11, the Laboratory has had to assume a different security posture,” said Jack Killeen, Security and Safeguards (S) Division acting leader. “We’ve had to move from a police-like force to a paramilitary force with the same know-how and weapons that are used in the military.”
After receiving a safety briefing and donning their flak vests, hearing and eye protection, the county leaders were escorted to a catwalk, nearly 25 feet above a state-of-the-art facility where special response teams simulated clearing a building in which terrorists had gained access.
A large “flash-bang” device is used to startle intruders as protective force team members enter with rifles extended and loaded with live rounds. The special response team members simulated clearing a nearly 2,000-square-foot building shooting at stationary targets with posters depicting good guys and bad guys. Security forces must discern friend from foe, ally from adversary, Killeen explained.
In some circumstances, the target area is about the size of a credit card and extends from the nose to top of the eyebrow. The facility itself, one of the top 10 in the country, according to Kileen, can be reconfigured with moveable walls and doorways so security forces don’t become accustomed to one setup.
“Activities like this are the kind of thing that others can view to gain appreciation of what we do to protect the Laboratory,” said Scott Gibbs, associate director for security and facility operations (ADSFO). “By protecting the Laboratory, we also ultimately protect the county.”
The visit was hosted by Killeen, Gibbs and Ray Ferry, Los Alamos Site Office assistant manager for security management.
