Utah District Trains for Active Shooter

First responders enter Pine View High School, St. George, Utah

Washington County School District brought together 200 school participants, law enforcement, firefighters, a bomb squad, and SWAT for a full-scale exercise.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KCSG Television) July 28, 2010 -- A full-scale emergency response exercise was conducted Tuesday at Pine View High School by the Washington County School District.

St. George Police Department public information officer Johnny Hepler outlined some of the activity the emergency exercise covered.

Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Nate Abbott told KCSG News his department had 17-to-20 people involved in the training exercise. He said the staged event allowed deputies to receive training that helps increase proficiency of responders and dispatchers in the event of an incident involving a violent suspect on a school campus.

More than 200 trained student and adult participants, as well as first responders from local and area law enforcement and fire departments, the bomb squad and SWAT took part in the exercise.

Tuesday's exercise is the first full-scale emergency exercise conducted at Pine View High School in recent years and is a part of the Washington County School District’s ongoing effort to update and improve its emergency preparedness plans and procedures.

View Video: KCSG Television - Full scale Emergency Response Exercise Conducted at Pine View