NIU police to lead multijurisdictional emergency response training exercise Friday

The Northern Illinois University Police and Public Safety will be leading a full scale exercise in and around the NIU Convocation Center on the morning of this Friday, July 10.

Police, fire, and emergency medical first responders will be training simulation for a situation involving an improvised explosive device (IED) and a barricaded subject within the Convocation Center. The training exercise will also involve the NIU administration activating a mock emergency operation center and test aspects of the campus emergency notification system.

“We are continuing to improve our critical incident response capabilities to ensure a safe campus for our students, faculty and staff at NIU,” NIU Chief of Police Tom Phillips said. “This year, we are integrating President Baker and NIU senior leadership into the exercise to take our response to the next level.”

The collaborative event is scheduled to have more than 200 participants from local and regional agencies that are working together to prepare for emergency situations in the campus community.

Organizations slated to participate or observe the exercise include:

• NIU Office of the President

• NIU Police and Public Safety

• NIU Office of Emergency Management

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (SWAT, Joint Terrorism Task Force)

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

• Illinois State Police (Districts 2 & 15, Special Response Team, Investigations)

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency

• Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS)

• Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS)

• DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office

• DeKalb County Emergency Management

• DeKalb County Coroner

• City of DeKalb Police

• DeKalb Fire Department

• City of Sycamore Police

• Sycamore Fire Department

• Kane County Sherriff’s Office

• Kane County Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

• KishHealth System

Exercise participants will work to secure the mock incident area, conduct triage and transport “patients” to Kishwaukee Hospital.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area surrounding the Convocation Center. Campus operations are not expected to be significantly impacted by the exercise. However, the following campus roads will be closed to traffic from 5:30 a.m. to noon:

• Stadium Drive West to Convocation Center Drive

• Stadium Drive North from Stadium Drive West to Presidents Blvd.

Motorists and pedestrians should expect to see emergency vehicles in and around the area as part of Friday’s exercise, which will run from 8 a.m. until noon. While participants will be using simulated weapons, there will be a controlled detonation of ordnance at the start of the exercise.