UCLA police, other agencies plan major training exercise on campus

UCLA police, the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department and other public safety agencies are planning a large-scale training exercise in the campus residence hall area on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Also participating will be emergency medical personnel from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

 

Students, faculty, staff and visitors may hear mock gunfire, flash-bang devices, sirens and shouting. Members of the campus community also may see multiple emergency vehicles, uniformed personnel and actors participating in the drill, as well as journalists covering the exercise.

 

Activity will be concentrated in the vicinity of Rieber Hall. Portions of De Neve Drive and some adjacent parking lots, walkways and roadways will be closed to the public. Access to the area will be restricted from approximately 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5. More limited restrictions will be in place on Wednesday, Aug. 6, when crime scene investigators train at the site.

 

Campus officials suggested that students, faculty, staff and visitors without essential business in the northwest portion of the campus avoid the area if possible.

 

The training scenario involves gunshot victims and a major response from public safety agencies. Additional details are not being made public so that the emergency response skills of participants can be accurately assessed.

 

"This exercise is part of an ongoing effort to train law enforcement and emergency medical personnel, test equipment, and enhance cooperation among agencies — essential to ensuring public safety and protecting the campus community in the event of an emergency," UCLA Police Chief Karl Ross said.

 

For journalists wishing to cover the exercise, the UCLA Office of Media Relations will provide an advisory — including photo opportunities, parking information and other details — on Monday, Aug. 4.