Suffolk Police To Host Shooter Exercise Following Mass Shootings

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - Suffolk County officials announced on Thursday that police will be hosting a series of upcoming active shooter exercises following the two recent mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.

The first drill of this most recent series will be held at a West Babylon school later this month to test the new initiative.

The new initiative, SHARE—Sharing to Help Access Remote Entry, will provide a direct link between schools and police headquarters.

For the first time during a drill, personnel in the department’s Real Time Crime Center will connect into the school’s Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) camera systems to inform responding officers of the mock threat.

The drill will also use the RAVE Panic Button, a mobile app that sends critical data to 9-1-1 dispatchers and first responders if an emergency situation arises.

The Suffolk County Police Department has been conducting active shooter drills at various locations throughout the county for several years to train officers for unexpected dangerous events.

There are currently no threats to Suffolk County but the department continues to prepare to prevent, detect, and deter acts of violence.

"We try to make our drills as realistic as possible that's why we generally look for sites that could be targeted so our officers have a variety of experiences because each unique venue has its own challenges," Chief of Department Stuart Cameron said.