BARSTOW, Calif. – Sgt. Steven Goss, K-9 trainer and handler, and Cpl. Gilberto Navarrete, K-9 handler for Marine Corps Police Department on Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, were awarded Meritorious Conduct Medals for their assistance during the Dec. 2 terrorist shooting which occurred in San Bernardino, during an Inland Empire Police K-9 Association dinner and meeting, Jan. 7.
Goss and Navarrete, along with K-9 Bady, provided explosives detection capabilities to support resources, which were stretched thin on that day, explained Goss. The team was sent to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, Calif., to help provide a safe location for victims of the attack to be taken after being evacuated from the Inland Regional Center where the shooting took place.
“As a SWAT team secured the ambulance bay and entrance to the emergency room at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, patrol officers were securing the hospital perimeter and helicopter landing pads,” said Goss. Their K-9 team searched for explosive devices and found none.
“This is one of those situations you train for, but hope that you will never have to respond to,” said Goss.
Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people and wounded 22 others that day, most of them San Bernardino County employees. The two were killed in a shoot-out with authorities shortly after the attack.
Story by Laurie Pearson
