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June 11, 2009
For Immediate Release
The Utah Valley University police department, in conjunction with other local law enforcement agencies and emergency response teams, will carry out the largest active shooter simulation ever conducted in Utah County on Sunday, June 14 at UVU’s Orem campus.
“This has never been done to this scale,” UVU police detective Kelly Liddiard said, noting that 180 officers and emergency responders and 100 volunteers (actors) will participate in the exercise. “There have been drills like this with other agencies on a lot smaller scale, but nothing like this in Utah County.”
Campus will be locked down beginning Saturday in preparation for the simulation, which will be conducted all day Sunday. Community members who live adjacent to UVU campus have been notified of the drill, but organizers want the community in general to be aware that this is indeed a drill and to not be alarmed.
The exercise, which has been in the planning stages since January, will include simulated gunfire, rescue helicopters and medical evacuations.
“The lessons we will learn will help us apply coordinated procedures to prevent the loss of life should something like this occur on a college campus, mall or anywhere else,” Liddiard said. “Every agency does training as part of its normal certification process, but we’ve come to the realization that if a situation arose on the scale that we’re planning to simulate, the response is going to take a much more coordinated effort that involves multiple agencies.”
Media outlets wishing to cover the simulation, particularly those wanting motion or still images of all the drill scenarios, must RSVP to UVU communications manager Erin Spurgeon at (801) 863-6807 no later than noon on Friday, June 12. By necessity, the number granted access inside the buildings will be limited during the drills. Further instructions will be given to media members when they RSVP.
Wal-Mart will be providing food for the participants.
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University Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807