Joint Training Exercise

In a continued effort to promote preparedness, Sheriff Octavia Johnson authorized a joint training exercise with the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office Tactical Team, Roanoke City Police Department and Carilion. Wednesday evening, April 23, the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office Tactical Team, Roanoke Police Department's Tactical Team and members of Carilion Security converged at Carilion Community Hospital to act out three emergency situation scenarios:

• A domestic dispute in a dorm room escalates into a hostage
situation.

• A mentally disturbed hospital patient wounds one officer and
overpowers and takes another officer hostage.

• A gang related dispute breaks out in the ER and mushrooms into
a riot.

In each case, Carilion Security was first on the scene. The Roanoke Police Department and the Roanoke Sheriff's Office were called for back-up and the tactical teams responded. Patients, portrayed by members of the Citizens Police Academy, were evacuated and the emergency situation resolved. After each exercise a de-brief was held to discuss problems presented and possible solutions.