Campus police hosting joint crisis negotiation, tactical training exercise
Law enforcement officials from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Police Department, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are participating today in a training exercise on the UCCS campus.
Activities are taking place throughout the day in the department of public safety offices and in campus housing on the west side of the UCCS campus. Faculty, staff, students and campus visitors should be aware of additional law enforcement presence but that no emergency exists. The Colorado Springs Police Department's Mobile Command Post will be on campus as will additional marked and unmarked police vehicles.
Plans call for FBI and Colorado Springs Police Department officers to lead training exercises in hostage negotiation techniques followed by a mock domestic violence barricade scenario, according to event organizers.
"While we hope to never have to have a hostage situation on campus, it's important that we learn how to deal with such problems and to benefit from the experience of others," said Jim Spice, executive director of the department of public safety and chief of the UCCS Police Department. "The time to learn new skills, and to build working relationships, is prior to needing them."
Also participating in the exercises will be members of the College of Education's counseling and human services department, residence life and student housing, and a campus response team of administrators, counselors and student affairs professionals.
Questions about the exercise should be directed to:
- UCCS Contact: Chief Jim Spice, 719-255-3288, Jspice@uccs.edu
- CSPD Contact: Lt. Sal Fiorillo, 719-444-7701, Fiorilsa@ci.colospgs.co.us
- FBI Contact: Mark Holstlaw, 303-630-6650, Mark.Holstlaw@ic.fbi.gov