Farmingdale Schools Introduce 'Groundbreaking' Active Assailant Response Exercises

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Farmingdale School District hosted an Active Assailant Walkthrough Activity at Farmingdale High School on July 25, in what the district called an "unprecedented" measure that cements the district's position as a "trailblazer among Long Island school districts in emergency preparedness and school safety."

The event included several carefully planned scenarios designed to simulate real-time threats and test the district’s rapid response capabilities. The objectives of the drill centered on improving communication and coordination between school personnel, local law enforcement, and armed security contractors to execute swift campus lockdowns and transition to armed response to the threat to ensure "coordinated post-incident accountability and recovery," the district stated.

The idea for the exercise was formed several months ago as part of the district's efforts to strengthen emergency readiness. The district waited until the summer break — when school buildings are unoccupied — to conduct the full-scale simulation as to not disrupt student learning.

The simulation was made possible through Farmingdale’s "close collaboration" with numerous law enforcement and emergency response agencies, including the school’s armed security team, Upfront Security; Nassau County Homeland Security; the Nassau County Police Department Problem-Oriented Police Unit; the Nassau County Bureau of Special Operations; and the Farmingdale Village Fire Department.

Additional support came from the New York State Police and the Nassau County Law Enforcement Explorers Program. District administrators were also actively involved.

Throughout the day, scenarios were carried out in which lockdowns were initiated, armed security responded immediately, and then coordinated with local law enforcement to eliminate and recover from the threat. These exercises refined tactical movement, containment, and recovery protocols, which the district says raises its preparedness to a level "few Nassau County districts have reached."

“Farmingdale is proud to be one of the first districts on Long Island to host a full-scale active assailant simulation in collaboration with local and regional law enforcement," said Dr. Samuel Thompson, assistant to the superintendent for administration, in a news release. "We take the safety of our students and staff seriously, and exercises like this are vital for refining our communication, coordination, and response protocols with our partners in law enforcement."

This training opportunity represents a "rare and advanced level of collaboration that few districts in Nassau County have yet experienced," the district wrote.

"Farmingdale’s leadership in this area reflects its deep commitment to safety and its proactive stance in preparing for emergencies," the district stated.