Last week the Danville Police Department partnered with multiple agencies for a mass casualty training exercise at Westwood Middle School.

This was the first time an exercise of this type and size has been held in Danville. Public Information Officer, Matt Bell, told River City TV about the training.

“It allows everyone who plays a role in the event of a mass casualty event to be able to come together and practice, figure out how they are going to approach a scene and what they are going to do when they get there. There was a time when you would wait for S.W.A.T. to arrive, Columbine, that’s one that everyone recognizes. Now it’s going in, finding that threat, and then ultimately dealing with that threat. From there, as they are clearing spaces and moving toward that threat, then you can have other personnel come in and actually deal with what they need to with the victims,” said Bell.

The training also involved the Danville Sheriff’s Office, SOVAH Health Danville, Danville Life Saving Crew, and the Danville Fire Department.