The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Thermal station will begin a two-day school shooter training session Wednesday at a La Quinta middle school.
Headed by the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, the training will begin at 5 a.m. at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School, 43-495 Palm Royale Drive. The Indio Police Department and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will also have personnel present during the drill.
The simulation will include active role players with non-lethal simulated ammunition. It is “designed to give law enforcement agencies realistic scenarios officers may encounter when responding to an active school shooter or potential mass causality event,” sheriff’s officials said.
The session will not be open to the public.
“While I hope and pray we never encounter such an event, it is incumbent for law enforcement agencies everywhere to ensure officers are prepared, equipped, and adequately trained should an event occur,” Capt. Andy Martinez from the Thermal station said in a statement.