The New York State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, in collaboration with the Orange County Emergency Management, Orange-Ulster BOCES Department of Health and Safety and local law enforcement and first responders, will hold an active shooter drill at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

The drill, which will be staged on the Orange-Ulster BOCES campus in Goshen, is not open to the public.

The training exercise will focus on emergency response to an active shooter incident on campus and will involve a simulation of law enforcement response to an active shooter. It will help assure a coordinated, timely, and effective response in the event of a major incident.

“We are proud to train side by side with our partner agencies, working toward the same goal of providing the best service and protection for New Yorkers,” New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven. A. Nigrelli said. “These trainings are imperative and equip law enforcement with strengthened knowledge and skills to respond to an active shooter situation. This collaborative effort is critical and together we are working to make schools and communities safer in New York State.”

The exercise will also educate attendees as to how to recognize signs of potential violence at schools, how to respond to an active shooting or other violent situation, and how to create an emergency action plan. Residents should expect to see an influx of law enforcement and other first responders at Orange-Ulster BOCES starting at approximately 8 a.m. on that Tuesday.

“Keeping Orange County’s students and residents safe is of the highest priority and I think this training will help,” Neuhaus said. “Our hope is that our educators will never need to utilize what they learn. However, as County officials, we want to make sure they possess the knowledge and information that will enable them to survive in an active shooter situation.”

The Orange County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police encourage county residents to take advantage of the Active Shooter/Hostile Event program they continue to offer to the public at no cost. For more information or to schedule a public education seminar, please contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office at ocnysheriff@orangecountygov.com or the New York State Police at Anca.Watt@troopers.ny.gov 

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