March 10, 2016
Torres Hosts Public Safety Round Table for Local, State, and Federal Officials
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) held a round table meeting at the Ontario Police Department for local, state, and federal public safety officials to discuss ongoing threats to the region and how they can work together to keep communities safe. Today’s meeting was a follow-up to a similar meeting held in August 2015.
“Since our last Public Safety Round Table, our community suffered a horrific terrorist attack right in our own backyard,” said Torres. “It was a stark reminder that no community is immune to the threat of terrorism and proved how important it is for law enforcement officials at all levels of government to have a productive working relationship. When seconds matter, I want to be sure our local law enforcement officials are able to put faces to the names of our federal partners and know exactly whom to call when issues arise.”
Participating in today’s meeting were representatives from law enforcement agencies across the 35th congressional district as well as: David Bowdich, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of Los Angeles Field Office; Tony Frangipane, DHS Director of Field Operations for Southwest Region; Cedric Cherry, FEMA Program Specialist; Darren Tsang, CalOES Unit Supervisor of Homeland Security Grant Program; and Mark Pazin, CalOES Chief of Emergency Services Law Enforcement Branch.
“Federal law enforcement and homeland security officials are looking at the larger picture of keeping our nation safe and have significant resources at their disposal, but it is the local law enforcement agencies that are the eyes and ears of the community,” continued Torres. “Building these relationships and finding more opportunities for collaboration will not only save time and resources but ultimately, save lives. The terrorist threats we face are evolving rapidly, and I look forward to continuing to foster an ongoing dialogue and partnership between our local leaders, the FBI, and DHS to keep our communities safe.”
Rep. Torres serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security. During her first term in Congress, she introduced H.R. 3842, legislation that makes improvements and permanently authorized the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and H.R. 3878, a bill that would strengthen cooperation and information sharing at our nation’s ports. Both bills passed the House of Representatives in December of last year.
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