(WASHINGTON, DC) --   Today, Thursday, May 31, 2007, the Metropolitan Police Department's Homeland Security/Special Operations Division (Department) and members of the Second District conducted a joint training exercise with American University authorities where officials simulated a campus shooting. 
 
The Active Shooter scenario was designed to test the response of the Metropolitan Police and campus police in the event of a mass shooting incident.  The exercise was intended to establish an incident command, secure a perimeter, establish triage and casualty care areas, provide pedestrian and vehicular traffic control, and establish a joint information center to ensure coordinated efforts between police, emergency responders and campus authorities.
 
Chief of Police Cathy L. Lanier noted, “This type of training exercise is the best preparation for a mass casualty event.  The recent tragedy at Virginia Tech is a reminder to all public safety officials that we must remain vigilant and be prepared to respond at a moment's notice." 
 
The Department, campus authorities and other first responder agencies will review the results of the exercise to determine how response plans may be modified and improved.
 
Today's training exercise was the first of it's kind at a local university. The Department regularly conducts similar trainings at DC Public Schools.