University of Mary Washington to host first responder, active shooter training

The University of Mary Washington police will conduct a first responder training exercise on March 5, 6 and 7, on the Fredericksburg campus.

The exercise is in collaboration with local and state public safety agencies and led by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Empty areas of campus will be used during the scheduled Spring Break for students.

The training will give law enforcement, public safety and emergency management teams the opportunity to practice a coordinated response to a simulated incident in a campus facility. Russell and Marshall Halls are two residence halls scheduled for demolition in the coming year and will serve as the primary site for training. Both buildings are already closed to the public. Police vehicles will be parked in the adjacent Marshall lot and police activity may be visible during the exercise, which includes a simulated interior active shooter response.

Signage will be visible on the buildings and on surrounding sidewalks to alert the campus community and neighbors during the two-day training exercise, which is not open to the public. While some activity will occur outside of the buildings, it will all be contained on campus and mostly happen within the two buildings. A classroom session will be held on the first day.