`Violent intruder drill' slated for Greensburg

The Greensburg police and fire departments, Mutual Aid Ambulance and Westmoreland County’s public safety department will conduct a violent intruder drill Monday inside an office at the Davis Center along East Pittsburgh Street.

Greensburg police are expected to fire blank rounds in the air during the drill at Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports Inc. at 770 E. Pittsburgh St., the social service agency said Friday.

The drill will take place inside the office, with some occupants and emergency services vehicles being directly outside the exits.

No roads or highways are expected to be closed, and any impact to the community should be minimal, the agency said.

This exercise will not interrupt any public safety services.

The parking areas around the Davis Center, where PennDOT has a driver’s license photo center, will be limited to access of the personnel and drill participants. A sign will be placed outside the facility on Monday notifying visitors that a drill is in progress.

Residents should be aware that real-life sights and sounds may be seen and heard along the periphery of the facility and through a variety of emergency response vehicles in the area, Westmoreland Casemanagement said.

Lynnette Emerick, chief executive officer of Westmoreland Casemanagement, could not be reached for comment Friday on when the drill will occur or its length. Greensburg police Chief Chad Zucco could not be reached for comment.

The drill will allow the emergency responders to observe, monitor and evaluate how those in the office react in the event of an intruder entering the office, Westmoreland Casemanagement said. The Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Programming will be used to evaluate the plans in place for a potentially lethal threat situation.

The drill will begin with a safety briefing and instruction on how these methods can reduce the risk of injury or casualties to staff, faculty and any visitors.