Call for Volunteers for Full-Scale Crisis Exercise on UK’s Campus

LEXINGTON, Kentucky – Active Aggressor Drill Planned by UKPD

In preparation for an upcoming full-scale active aggressor exercise, the University of Kentucky Police Department (UKPD) has issued a call for volunteers. Scheduled to be held on UK’s campus on Thursday, May 30, 2024, this strategic exercise is designed to provide training for officers and first responders in the Lexington area to deal with high-stress, realistic active aggressor scenarios.

Imperative Need for Volunteers to Render a Realistic Experience

Essential to the conceptualization of the exercise is the role of volunteers. UKPD is banking on the participation of community members to help bring as much realism to the drill as possible. Responsibilities will encompass a range of roles, chiefly becoming victim actors, handling setup and takedown, along with assisting with food and other tasks. Volunteer service is to kick-off from 7:30 a.m. and wind up around 3 p.m. on May 30.

Those keen on participating have been invited to register at go.uky.edu/crisis-exercise. UKPD will continue to accept volunteers up until Friday, May 24. Volunteers will receive an email detailing further information post-registration.

Ongoing Training and Practice for Optimum Preparedness

This training forms a unique window of opportunity for first responders to train and run drills, which cannot be run during regular class sessions. Collaboratively, UKPD will team up with personnel from UK HealthCare, UK Public Relations, and the UK Emergency Operations Center. They aim to refine the process of coordinating responses internally and externally during an active aggressor occurrence.

Not only is this a crucial exercise for first responders, but volunteering also gives community members a chance to support them. Furthermore, it helps these individuals to better equip themselves for potential emergency situations. Questions concerning participation can be emailed to Ashley Chaney at ashley.chaney@uky.edu.

About University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky, the state’s flagship, a land-grant institution, has a long standing commitment for the advancement of the Commonwealth. The University focuses on preparing the next generation of leaders by placing students at the core of its initiatives.

Apart from academic training, the University is committed to transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research, creative work, service and health care. In 2022, UK featured in Forbes’ list of “Best Employers for New Grads” and earned the title of “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity.

The University believes in harnessing the skills and expertise of visionaries, disruptors and pioneers, who contribute to the University’s 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research & development enterprise and a world-class medical center.

Contact Details

For additional information, contact Dani Jaffe at danielle.jaffe@uky.edu or call (859) 562-2021.