Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department is hosting a joint active shooter training exercise at two public schools in Mt. Juliet on Friday, October 18, 2013. The exercise will simulate a realistic emergency response to multiple shooters inside schools during a school day.
“These realistic mock scenarios allow us to evaluate our response capabilities in the event of an actual emergency,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “We want to assure our community that our department, law enforcement partners, and emergency responders train for these types of situations so we are prepared if and when we’re needed.”
The exercise will be a coordinated multi-agency response to an active shooter and mass casualty incident on two Mt. Juliet school campuses. More than 100 volunteers and emergency responders will participate in the preparedness drill, including personnel from the Mt. Juliet Police Department, Fire Department of Mt. Juliet, Wilson County Sheriff’s Department, Lebanon Police Department, Wilson County Emergency Management Agency, and Wilson County Schools. The exercise will incorporate volunteers in facilitating the training drill by playing the roles of victims, bystanders, or shooters. Mt. Juliet Police personnel will also test the emergency communications system in the city, which includes Nixle, Twitter, Facebook, and the police newsroom.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared for emergency situations, especially on a school campus. It is vital to the safety and well-being of our community and school children that we prepare ourselves to respond appropriately to an active shooter incident,” said Mt. Juliet Police Captain Michael Mullins, who is coordinating the exercise.
The active shooter drill is meant to better prepare law enforcement and emergency responders to provide the quickest and most appropriate response to any type of emergency or threatening situation on a school campus. The main goal is to ensure law enforcement and emergency responders are prepared for the worst so the safety of students and staff remains a priority.
More specific details on the times and exact school locations of the training exercise will be released closer to the training exercise on October 18. The media is more than welcome to cover and participate in the training exercise. Media, who are interested in covering or participating, should contact Sgt. Tyler Chandler for arrangements.
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