Orange County is on “heightened alert” due to today's Boston explosions that have killed at least two and injured nearly two dozen people, according to Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. “Although the tragic incident in Boston, Massachusetts this
afternoon appears to be isolated, the Orange County Sheriff's Department is on heightened alert,” says Hutchens in a prepared statement. “Our deputies will have an increased presence at local
sporting/entertainment venues and other large gathering places.”
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The sheriff reassures locals that her department has a “sophisticated integrated response plan” to act quickly and
protect citizens in the event of a local emergency.
“We are actively reaching out to local event organizers to
review their safety protocol, as well as ensuring our first responders are properly equipped with necessary
resources should a similar incident occur,” Hutchens says in the statement.
Her department extends its
thoughts and prayers to the victims in Boston, their families and friends. Meanwhile, anyone who notices suspicious activity around here is urged to call the
Orange County Sheriff's Department at 714.647.7000 or 949.770.6011. Anonymous tip can be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1.855.847.6227.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also has an “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign that
encourages citizens to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement. Visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/reportincidents/see-something-say-something.shtm for more details.
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OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.