Boone County law enforcement agencies are now one step closer to feeling more prepared in extreme emergency situations. A number of organizations participated yesterday in an extensive training exercise. Law enforcement agencies included the local SWAT team, the Mid-Missouri Bomb Squad, the Missouri Guard 7th Civil Support Team, the FBI, and the Columbia Fire and Police Departments. The agencies worked together to simulate an attempt to serve a warrant at a private residence. Outside a vacant home in Boone County, about half a dozen emergency responders worked together to bandage up a bloodied victim. Just minutes earlier the responders rescued the victim from inside the home. Other law enforcement quickly went through decontamination, removing any possible toxic chemicals from their hazmat suits. Nearby, operators controlled a robot searching inside of the house for bombs, trip wires and other toxic chemicals. It was all in an effort to prepare emergency responders for the worst situations possible. Columbia Fire Department Division Chief Terry Cassil calls the event a once in a career opportunity. "It allows us to make contacts, have familiar faces, know who's capable of what sorts of things. So I think we're much more prepared after the exercise than before."
University Police Department Sergeant and bomb squad technician Chris Groves says training exercises help responders get to know each other through teamwork before an emergency situation arises.
"Quite frankly we're having a lot of fun just learning and interfacing with all the other units here."
Master Sergeant William Heikkila is the Communications Chief for the Weapons of Mass Destruction 7th Civil Support Team. Heikkila says in the end he hopes the exercise will help in the future.
"The big thing that I hope for is a good joint exercise where all the agencies involved have learned something new and can master that skill and then take it on to the next exercise."
Departments train once a month, but events like this are rare.
