BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL

Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale was the site of a recent “Active Shooter Training Scenario” conducted by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Corona-Norco Unified School District. (Photo Courtesy: ERHS)

Eastvale – In partnership with the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD), the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, overseen by Captain Jason Horton, participated in an Active Shooter Training Scenario exercise.

This training exercise allowed deputies to respond to a mock incident that simulated a real-life crisis whereby someone attempted to create violence on a campus.

According to Horton, “This doesn’t necessarily mean a school shooting only; it can also be where someone is coming on campus with the intent to injure as many victims as they can. It can also be stabbings, etc.”

Every deputy assigned out of Eastvale’s Jurupa Valley station underwent this specialized training, which occurred over a week-long period at a variety of hours. In order to accommodate the shifts of all the deputies, some of the training was held at night.

Using Eleanor Roosevelt High School as a training facility gave the deputies a way to familiarize themselves with the layout of the school, as well as some of the faculty and administration that they would be working with. The Sheriff’s Department used trained “role-players” to make the situation as real as possible.

CNUSD administration was provided training and allowed to watch a demonstration. They will take this learning experience back to the schools and train their staff members.

“We feel that along with the training that the deputies already have, this exercise serves as a way to sharpen their skills even further,” said Horton about the training. This scenario-based instruction caused concern by residents who were alarmed that something awful had happened at the high school. However, the exercise was just a way for our local deputies to further improve their skills to keep our community safe.