On Monday, Aug. 24, from about 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Sedona Police Department, Sedona Fire District and the Verde Valley Regional SWAT team will conduct a multi-agency, full-scale training exercise in Uptown to practice their collaborative response to various public safety threats.

The exercise will be held at 401 Jordan Road in Uptown. The vacant building is owned by the Sedona Fire District and slated for demolition in September. When the property is redeveloped, it will become the new Sedona Fire District Fire Station No. 4.

“During the exercise, people in the Uptown area will see SPD and SWAT vehicles and officers, along with emergency responders arriving at the building and taking the actions they would if the situation were real,” said Stephanie Foley, SPD chief of police. “It is very important that our community’s law enforcement and other responders continually and collectively train for these types of situations so that if one does happen, we can optimize our response.”

Training exercises like this are planned to test crucial components of response plans and protocols. To support this goal, during this exercise, law enforcement and emergency personnel will be responding as though the situation is real.

Armored vehicles, SWAT members in full gear, police and fire units and other response vehicles and personnel will be on site. Among the personnel some will be acting as bystanders, victims and suspects. The “actors” may appear to bystanders as a real-life situation.

The public may hear devices that mimic the sounds of gunfire and small explosives will be used. There will also be shouting and weapons drawn during the exercise.

After the exercise, they will gather feedback to make improvements if or where needed.

The SPD asks the public to stay away from the training location and to direct questions to the SPD non-emergency line at 928-282-3100.