MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE 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.