Active Shooter Drill Planned Friday At Freehold Twp.-Area School

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — Local and county law enforcement officials are alerting the public to a major police drill that will take place Friday, June 23, at the Biotechnology High School and Career Center on Kozloski Road.

The exercise centers around an active shooter drill, so residents might be aware of more police activity in the area than usual, authorities advise.

County law enforcement officials will partner with municipal first responders in Western Monmouth County to conduct the drill, which will give hundreds of municipal and county law enforcement officers and first responders an opportunity to train together during a "realistic active shooter simulation," said Freehold Township Chief of Police George Baumann.

“This drill brings together police departments in Western Monmouth to focus on improving our response to an active shooter event,” said Baumann, who will be serving as the incident commander of the event. “Our focus is on improving our communication and coordination between departments in order to keep children safe throughout the region.”

The exercise is intended to improve the capabilities of the Western Monmouth County Active Shooter Partnership, which includes law enforcement agencies in Allentown, Manalapan, Englishtown, Marlboro, Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Howell and Colts Neck.

The full range of participants is expected to face a simulated active shooter inside the high school building. The exercise is being coordinated by Critical Response Group Inc. of Ewing Township, and is funded through a Homeland Security Grant Program.

Residents in the area may notice increased first responder activity on Kozloski Road between the East Freehold Showgrounds and the Monmouth County Government Complex as part of the drill, but these roads will remain open during the drill, police said.

Area residents should expect to see a buildup of participants starting around 10 a.m. on Friday, June 23, at the East Freehold Showgrounds. The live portion of the event will take place at around 1 p.m., with participants using both the Monmouth County Vocational School District Biotechnology High School and the Career Center.

Residents will have no access to the East Freehold Showgrounds or the Biotechnology High School and Career Center Campus from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 23.

The scenario will include a law enforcement response and coordinated responses from other emergency responders and medical personnel.

The exercise will also involve fire departments from Freehold Township, as well as EMS agencies from around Monmouth County.

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT) will also participate in the event.

“This is the third regional full-scale drill we have conducted in the last five years because active shooter training is of vital importance for public safety agencies in Monmouth County,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago. “We continue to build upon the lessons learned from our drills in Manasquan and Hazlet in order to improve our response to school safety events.”

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden's office coordinated the funding for the event.

“The district relies on both the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and municipal agencies to provide the utmost of safety to all students and staff. As leaders in law enforcement we must always be prepared, and that’s why it’s extremely important to continue to address the issue of school violence by consistent active shooter drills and training. We are grateful for the support, and thank the district in hosting this event.”