VCU Police, with local, state and federal partners, to conduct active shooter exercise on Aug. 3

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The VCU Police Department will conduct active shooter training exercises on Thursday, Aug. 3, on the Monroe Park Campus. VCUPD is working in collaboration with the Richmond Police Department, Virginia State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The exercises consist of a simulated emergency inside the University Student Commons, located at 907 Floyd Ave.; these exercises will be realistic, with simulated sounds inside the building, including gunfire and crowd panic. This training gives police the opportunity to practice a coordinated response to a VCU building with local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

Reporters are invited to cover the 10:30 a.m. exercise and should arrive by 9:45 a.m. Everyone entering the training site will be required to pass through a weapons check station; civilians cannot bring in weapons of any kind. VCU Police Chief John Venuti will take reporters inside the commons prior to the start of the exercise for a briefing; during the exercise, reporters will be able to film the training from outside the building. Media parking is available on the 900 block of West Main Street.

Police will use multiple communications, including mass mails and social media messages, in advance of the exercise to increase awareness among the university community, neighborhood organizations and area businesses. On the day of the exercise, police will issue text messages to more than 50,000 VCU Alert subscribers.

The University Student Commons will be closed to the public during the training and will reopen at 3 p.m. The area will be clearly marked with signs and security officers will be on-site to answer questions and direct pedestrian traffic.

Parking restrictions will be in place on the 900 block of West Main Street. North Cherry Street, between Floyd Avenue and West Main Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic. Due to the number of participating agencies, there will be a heavy law enforcement presence in the area.