NMSU successfully completes critical incident response training scenario

New Mexico State University Police worked with several regional law enforcement agencies to conduct an active-shooter and suspicious-package training exercise at NMSU’s Branson Library Thursday. (Photo: Courtesy)

Source: NMSU News Release
DATE:Aug. 8, 2024
WRITER: Adriana M. Chávez, 575-646-1957, adchavez@nmsu.edu

New Mexico State University, along with state and local law enforcement agencies, participated Thursday in a planned critical incident response training involving an active-shooter scenario.

The NMSU police and fire departments, along with New Mexico State Police, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department, the Mesilla Marshal’s Department, the Las Cruces Fire Department and the Las Cruces Police Department’s SWAT team participated in Thursday’s training.

Thursday’s scenario began with several calls to 911 reporting shots fired inside NMSU’s Branson Library. During the scenario, four people were reportedly shot and officers discovered a suspicious box in a library stairway.

NMSU police worked with NMSU Library staff on a multiphase approach to the training, which included a presentation on what active-shooting training looks like and a full-scale exercise consisting of library staff who volunteered to participate.

NMSU interim Police Chief Justin Dunivan said Thursday’s exercise also gave police an opportunity to coordinate with regional law enforcement and use the lessons learned from the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and the 2023 shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to enhance NMSU’s protocols.

“When we look at these types of drills or exercises, we want to seek improvement,” Dunivan said. “It was a collaborative effort that gave us a great opportunity to work together to standardize our training and protocols to ensure that should this occur in the near future, we’re better prepared.”

“The NMSU Library would like to extend our thanks to the NMSU Police Department for their invaluable support and expertise during our recent active killer training exercise,” said Kevin J. Comerford, dean of the NMSU Library. “Their dedication and professionalism are instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of our library staff and patrons. At the NMSU Library, the safety of our community is our top priority, and this training is a crucial step in maintaining a secure and welcoming environment for everyone.”

To learn more about NMSU’s administrative regulations regarding emergency preparedness and response, visit https://arp.nmsu.edu/16-10/.

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Levi Gwaltney

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