Penn State Police to Hold Full-Scale Active Attacker Training Exercise

Penn State University Police and Public Safety will conduct a full-scale active attacker preparedness exercise Sunday on the University Park campus, prompting temporary access restrictions, possible road and parking closures and increased emergency activity in the area.

The planned training event in partnership with other emergency response agencies is scheduled for approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Student Health Center on Eisenhower Road. Penn State said the training will simulate an active attacker scenario and advised the public that it is not related to an actual threat or recent incident. 

Increased police activity, emergency vehicles, loud noises and temporary road and parking restrictions are expected throughout the day, according to a release.

Students, employees, visitors and members of the public are asked to avoid the area around the Student Health Center during the exercise, as access to the training area will be restricted. Signage and university communications will provide information about affected areas. 

Penn State police will conduct the exercise with local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical services and select Penn State units. The exercise is intended to test communication, decision-making and coordination between the participating agencies. 

The exercise will include safety officers and established protocols designed to keep the training controlled. Penn State said the scenario will use role players, emergency vehicles and simulated activities to create realistic training conditions without creating an actual emergency.

Per the statement, normal university operations outside the exercise area are expected to continue. 

“Exercises like this one are among the most valuable investments we can make in campus safety,” Wesley Sheets, associate vice president and chief of police and public safety, said. “They allow our officers and our partners to work through complex scenarios in a realistic environment, identify gaps, and strengthen the coordination that is essential when every second matters.” 

The exercise is part of Penn State’s ongoing emergency preparedness and all-hazards emergency management efforts. 

Officials said full-scale exercises allow responders to practice coordinated responses in a controlled environment and evaluate procedures that could be used during an actual emergency. 

“A full-scale exercise of this nature requires coordination across dozens of agencies and departments, and that coordination is itself one of the most important outcomes,” Brian Bittner, director of emergency management, said. “When our team, university partners, and regional responders train together, we build the shared understanding and trust that makes a real difference in an actual emergency.”

No PSUAlert notification is planned for the exercise unless an unrelated real emergency occurs. If an actual emergency happens during the exercise, the training will be stopped or paused and personnel will transition to responding to the real incident. 

According to the release, detailed findings from the exercise will not be released publicly because of security concerns. The university emphasized the exercise is not in response to a specific incident and does not represent a threat to the University Park campus or surrounding community. 

Students, employees and visitors are encouraged to review its emergency procedures, including its Active Attacker Response Protocol and Run, Hide, Fight model. 

For questions about the exercise, UPPS can be reached at 814-863-1111. In an actual emergency, call 911.