"Since I come from the sports background, I've learned from a long time ago that practice makes perfect and the more you practice the better it is," said Governor /*Arnold Schwarzenegger*/.
Officials who designed this drill say in the past they have been slow walking drills. This one they said was fast running.
The scenario had gunmen coming ashore by boat, shooting joggers and tourists that they encountered in Shoreline Park. They grabbed hostages before being isolated and shot by police.
"I'm on the Special Weapons and Tactics team and we got a report that there were some terrorists in the building and that there was a chemical weapon and we were told to go inside and clear it," said Officer Carlos Nava, Long Beach Police SWAT officer.
The drill in Long Beach is just one of dozens that were staged up and down the state on Wednesday. The emphasis this year was on port security. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies all took part, trying to make sure they worked smoothly and effectively together.
"Some would say by looking at this, it is an expensive operation, but we can't afford not to do it and we all I think hope for the best but we have to prepare for the worst," said Chief Jim McDonnell, Long Beach Police Department.
Long Beach and other west coast ports are considered natural targets for real terrorists because they're the engines of the region's economy. Officials insist they're now much better equipped and prepared to deal with an attack and drills like this, they say, prove it.
