A large-scale “active shooter drill” is scheduled Thursday in the Val Verde Unified School District, with organizers seeking to make it the “most realistic” rehearsal that they’ve attempted, drawing multiple agencies together for the training session.
The drill, which will be staged at intervals, is set for 8 a.m. at Rancho Verde High School, 17750 Lasselle St., according to the school district.
“The training will include numerous law enforcement agencies from surrounding areas,” according to a VVUSD statement. “We intend to make this the most realistic … active shooter response we can make. We will be using role players, who will consist of adults and students, with added visual and audio effects for realism.”
The school district anticipates more than 150 first responders will be involved, along with 100 students, staff and other participants playing out various parts.
More than two dozen public affairs personnel are slated to be on hand, joined by representatives from Moreno Valley and Riverside County, who will be observing, officials said.
The exercise is scheduled to run all day.
“Teams will respond every hour throughout the training,” according to the school district.
The drill is conducted annually, though this year’s training has been amplified.
Officials didn’t say whether the augmented scenario is related to the May 24 events in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School, allegedly by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos.
Ultimately, nearly 400 law enforcement officers responded to the location, according to published reports.
The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety last month announced results of an investigation indicating that police officers wasted time, exhibiting indecision and fear for their own lives, leaving the children at the shooter’s mercy for over an hour.
Ramos was killed in a classroom by SWAT officers.