(July 8, 2005) -- LB Police Chief Anthony Batts told LB neighborhood activists in February that a visit that he and other LB officials gained insights into security and terrorism on a recent visit to Israel.

Addressing neighborhood activists from across the city at LBPD's February 17, 2005 monthly community Crime Prevention Meeting, Chief Batts discussed the trip, made in late January trip without city taxpayer funds, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League.

Chief Batts said the trip involved roughly 17 people including an LBPD Deputy Chief, a Sergeant from LBPD's new Counter-Terrorism unit, the LBPD Commander who oversees the Port. Also part of the delegation was LB Fire Chief Dave Ellis, LBFD command staff and a number of LB area physicians including Dr. Seymour Alban.

"We were going there specifically to learn about security," Chief Batts said, adding that with a Port and an Airport to protect, "I wanted to go to people who know and have lived through this and have a level of expertise to see if we can learn from them..."

Chief Batts said that what he saw differed in many ways from contemporary American life:

Chief Batts added, "All that was a very unique experience for us. A lot of things that we learned. A lot of things that we took away with us. Some things that we'll never use here in America, I don't think that will ever, ever happen."

He said he was struck by the size: "I think of a nation, like nation of Israel, maybe like the state of California to Nevada, [but] you're actually talking about Long Beach to Lakewood. [audible audience surprise] You're talking about very small areas."

Chief Batts concluded, "We here in America are going to deal with terrorism for a long time...And I don't want to be the bearer of bad news or things along those lines, but I think it's just a matter of time before we have another incident in America, and I think it's going to happen, it's going to occur at some point in time..."