On Tuesday, March 24, a coalition of local police forces staged a critical incident response training exercise at Buena Park High School. Due to the rise in mass casualty events over the past several years, the FBI determined that law enforcement agencies were in need of enhanced preparation in dealing with these unfortunate events. The exercise provided law enforcement with essential feedback in confronting a critical incident.
On Tuesday, March 24, a coalition of local police forces staged a critical incident response training exercise at Buena Park High School. Due to the rise in mass casualty events over the past several years, the FBI determined that law enforcement agencies were in need of enhanced preparation in dealing with these unfortunate events. The exercise provided law enforcement with essential feedback in confronting a critical incident.
The Buena Park Police Department was joined by Orange County Sheriff Department S.W.A.T., North Orange County S.W.A.T., the Orange County Fire Authority, and Buena Park S.W.A.T. The exercise was conducted to analyze the joint efforts of a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency response to a dynamic critical incident.
There were over 100 role players, playing the roles of teachers, students, wounded victims, etc.; and well over 100 officers.
The training exercise began at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 2 p.m. The teams of law enforcement arrived in waves. Buena Park S.W.A.T. was first on the scene and entered through a classroom. Unloaded assault rifles were drawn and participants acted in a realistic manner. The critical incident simulation provided the officers with a learning experience, as they had no knowledge of the details of the simulation. All officers reacted to situations as they normally would when they arise.
“This is how we can prepare,” said Corporal Bret Carter of Buena Park Police Department. “Obviously, nothing can fully prepare you for an incident such as this, but our agencies will at least have an idea of the procedures and radio calls that we would act out. It will not be their first time.”
As law enforcement scattered the Buena Park High School campus and sealed the perimeter will their weapons on display, many neighboring residents were alarmed. The fact that there was an accompanying police helicopter circling the school gave the appearance that the drill was a real event for many spectators. This was the case even though local residents were notified weeks in advance of the exercise.
“This looks scary,” said Buena Park resident, Daniel P. “My daughters came running inside after they saw the guns. We didn’t know what was going on.”
Despite the alarm, the exercise is seen as necessary. From the year 2000 to 2013, 160 critical incidents occurred within the country. In these 160 incidents, 486 innocent people were killed and 557 people were wounded. Nearly 25 percent of the incidents occurred on a school, whether an elementary school, high school, or institution of higher education.
After the exercise, there was a debriefing by all involved parties. The different forces analyzed and critiqued their performance.
