Intro: "If you notice a heavy military presence around downtown Los Angeles this week, don't be alarmed - it's only a drill. Joint military training exercises will be held evenings through Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department."
Police around the country held Urban Shield training drills much like the police-military drills being run in Los Angeles. (photo: angelikabayri/flickr}
24 January 12
f you notice a heavy military presence around downtown Los Angeles this week, don't be alarmed - it's only a drill.
Joint military training exercises will be held evenings through Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD will be providing support for the exercises, which will also be held in other portions of the greater Los Angeles area, police said.
Training sites "have been carefully selected to ensure the event does not negatively impact the citizens of Los Angeles and their daily routine," a department official said.
The training, which a department official said would involve helicopters, has been coordinated with local authorities and owners of the training sites, police said.
Police said safety precautions have been taken to prevent risk to the general public and military personnel involved.
The exercises are closed to the public, police said.
The exercises are designed to ensure the military's ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments, and meet mandatory training certification requirements, police said.
