KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Police Department hosted a multiagency training exercise last week at the Stokely Athletic Center on the UT Knoxville campus. UTPD periodically hosts this type of exercise to evaluate emergency response to a number of potentially violent situations on campus.
Nearly one hundred individuals from UTPD, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD), the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), and the Tennessee Valley Authority Police participated in the event.
During the various training scenarios, the officer response teams encountered violent, dynamic situations, including active shooters, improvised explosive devices, and scenarios involving fatally wounded “victims.”
Mimicking a real-life response scenario, many of the teams were comprised of officers from different local law enforcement agencies.
“Our relationship with KPD, KCSO, and other local law enforcement is intentionally seamless,” said UTPD Chief Gloria Graham. “Training together prior to an emergency enhances our ability to respond effectively when an actual situation occurs.
“Every second counts in these scenarios,” Graham added. “Our officers are committed to placing their lives on the line in order to rapidly deploy and eliminate potentially harmful situations. Realistic training to prepare them is an invaluable tool.”