SoCal police agencies taking precautions in wake of Baton Rouge shooting

Law enforcement officials are taking precautions in Orange and Los Angeles counties following a shooting Sunday moing of several police officers in Louisiana, officials said.

Baton rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola, speaking on local station WAFB, said the police officers were shot a 9 a.m. within less than a mile of the police headquarters.

• Related Story: Authorities search for suspects after 3 police officers shot, killed in Baton Rouge

The Orange County Sheriif Department issued an advisory to stay vigilant to at least 200 deputies presently on patrol in contract cities and unicorporated areas of the county, said Sheriff’s Lt. Lloyd Downing.

“We don’t know if the deputies are aware of what’s going on.” he said. “I sent out a notice about 30 minutes ago. I don’t think anything will happen here but we want to let them know what’s going on.”

Downing said deputies are still on single patrols but that could change if the Sheriff or upper level managers make the call to double up.

“We’re aware of the incident (in Baton Rouge) obviously and monitoring it,” Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman, said Sunday moing. “It’s a sad day for law enforcement families.”

• Photos: 3 police officers dead, 3 hurt in Baton Rouge shooting

“Everybody’s remaining vigilant and aware of our surroundings,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Guillermina Saldana, a spokeswoman, said Sunday moing. “Nothing has been said about anything being tactically different in our stations or anything like that. Right now, it’s just remaining vigilant.”

Following the fatal shooting of 5 police officers in Dallas earlier this month, Sheriff Jim McDoell instructed deputies to double up in their patrol cars for at least one day, she said.

“We don’t know about (the Baton Rouge incident) yet; it’s too fresh,” Saldana said.

Advertisement