By Jake Burns
VCU Police

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department and the Richmond Police Department will hold a joint active shooter training exercise on Wednesday, March 12, that will impact a portion of VCU’s Monroe Park Campus.

The exercise will involve the sound of simulated gunfire and actors in realistic makeup that mimic significant injuries. Community members can expect to see law enforcement and emergency personnel from multiple jurisdictions, including Richmond police SWAT personnel and law enforcement drones.

This event was rescheduled from January following winter weather and water outage impacts at that time.

The March 12 exercise will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the 900 block of West Franklin Street. The block will be closed starting at 6 a.m., and restrictions will remain in place until 5 p.m.

Sidewalks in the area will remain open to foot traffic, with the exception of the sidewalk directly in front of the VCU Office of the President.

The drill provides law enforcement professionals from partner agencies a chance to collaborate in a real-time, simulated environment. VCU Police, VCU Safety Ambassadors, Richmond SWAT team members and leadership from both police departments will play active roles in the exercise.

“Training opportunities like this one take a tremendous amount of planning, resources and coordination to simulate real-world chaos. This training time for first responders is precious. It allows us to learn and grow and better prepare us for the unexpected,” said John Venuti, associate vice president for public safety at VCU and VCU Health.

Police will use multiple communications, including mass emails and social media messages, in advance of the exercise to increase awareness among the university community, neighborhood organizations and area businesses. On the day of the exercise, police will issue text messages to VCU Alert subscribers.

Media are encouraged to cover the March 12 event. Media should arrive no later than 11 a.m. VCU and Richmond police officials will brief media members at 11:15 a.m.

Media parking will be available in front of the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St. Photography/videography crews will be permitted to capture visuals from the sidewalks near the drill.