Pasadena Police and Fire Department Active Assailant Training Exercise on July 17

On Wednesday, July 17, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Caltech Security will host the Pasadena Police Department, Pasadena Fire Department, and other first-responder agencies in a training exercise on Caltech's campus that will simulate an active assailant situation.

Caltech takes seriously its responsibility to practice coordination with emergency responders to be prepared for critical incidents that may occur on or near campus.

The exercise, which will include a morning and afternoon drill, will be centered around Beckman Auditorium. Exercise activities will occur inside the auditorium, around the perimeter of the auditorium, and on the northern end of Beckman Mall. These areas, as indicated in this map, as well as parking lots 10 and 11, will be closed for the full duration of the exercise. Emergency responders will use the parking lots as a staging and operations area for the drills and to facilitate access to campus for the emergency personnel and vehicles responding to the simulated events.

To create a more realistic exercise, Pasadena police and fire will use visual and audio effects that may be concerning to those nearby during each of the drills. These effects may include clearly identifiable replica weapons and actors with makeup meant to simulate injuries. There will be audible sounds of simulated gunfire and explosions, sirens, and potential sounds of distress from actors. The fire department officials will remove "injured" actors and attend to their injuries in the area.

Please anticipate seeing a large number of uniformed officers and first responders on campus. Police cars, fire engines, and ambulances will be onsite, and a low flying helicopter may be in the area.

Please avoid this area of campus on July 17. The area, as indicated in the map, will be cordoned off with Caltech Security personnel posted around the perimeter and signs placed to remind individuals that a training drill is in progress.

Exercise participants will gather on campus beginning at 6:30 a.m. The first drill will start at around 8 a.m., and a second drill will start at around 1 p.m. Each drill is expected to last up to 2 hours.

We appreciate your understanding as we work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure we are all appropriately trained for a coordinated response to emergency on campus. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact emergencypreparedness@caltech.edu.