You may notice that CHP Officers everywhere are
donning a new blue uniform instead of their signature tan uniforms. The CHP will be conducting a
state wide homeland security drill for the next two weeks to test their
readiness for deployment for emergencies statewide. However, the Amador Unit of
CHP only expects the drill to last for 2 days locally. The drill
requires that every on duty CHP Officer carry with them standard gear, such as
a baton a helmet ect., but also special equipment for a possible hazmat
situation which includes, a hazmat uniform and breathing apparatus.
During
the drill there is the possibility that Officers of the Amador unit could be
called upon to respond to an emergency situation anywhere in the state of
California. They will be judged based upon their response time as well as
preparedness when they arrive. Public Information Officer Craig Harmon
explains that the Amador Unit of CHP had extra training throughout the year to
prepare for such an event or drill. “They gave us the equipment for hazmat materials…(and) We just got retrained
on our crowd control and weaponless defenses.”
