PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREEHOLD: Monmouth County law enforcement officials will partner with municipal first responders in Monmouth County’s Western Region to conduct an active shooter drill at Monmouth County Vocational School District’s (MCVSD’s) Biotechnology High School and Career Center on Friday, June 23, 2023. The drill will give hundreds of municipal and county law enforcement officers and first responders an opportunity to train together during a realistic active shooter simulation, announced Freehold Township Chief of Police George Baumann.

“This drill brings together all of police departments in Western Monmouth to focus on improving our response to an active shooter event,” said Baumann, who will be serving as the incident commander of the event. “Our focus is on improving our communication and coordination between departments in order to keep children safe throughout the region.”

The scenario will include a law enforcement response and coordinated responses from other emergency responders and medical personnel. The exercise is intended to improve the capabilities of the Western Monmouth County Active Shooter Partnership, which includes law enforcement agencies in Allentown Borough, Manalapan, Englishtown, Marlboro, Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Howell, and Colts Neck.

The exercise will also involve fire departments from Freehold Township, as well as EMS agencies from around Monmouth County.

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT) will also participate in the event.

“This is the third regional full-scale drill we have conducted in the last five years, because active shooter training is of vital importance for public safety agencies in Monmouth County,” said Prosecutor Raymond Santiago. “We continue to build upon the lessons learned from our drills in Manasquan and Hazlet in order to improve our response to school safety events.”
Residents should expect to see a buildup of participants starting around 10:00 am on Friday, June 2023 at the East Freehold Showgrounds. The live portion of the event will take place around 1:00 pm, with participants utilizing both the MCVSD Biotechnology High School and the Career Center.
Residents will have no access to the East Freehold Showgrounds or the MCVSD Biotechnology High School and Career Center Campus from approximately 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on June 23.

Residents may observe increased first responder activity on Kozloski Road between the East Freehold Showgrounds and the Monmouth County Government Complex as part of the drill, but these roads will remain open during the drill.

“The Monmouth County Vocational School District has some of the best schools in the State of NJ,” said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, whose office coordinated the funding for the event. “The district relies on both the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and municipal agencies to provide the utmost of safety to all students and staff. As leaders in law enforcement we must always be prepared, and that’s why it’s extremely important to continue to address the issue of school violence by consistent active shooter drills and training. We are grateful for the support and thank the district in hosting this event.”

The full range of participants is expected to face a simulated active shooter inside the high school building. The exercise is being coordinated by Critical Response Group, Inc of Ewing Township, New Jersey and is funded through a Homeland Security Grant Program.

An outdoor media area will be established for any reporters who wish to cover the event. Press credentials from the New Jersey Press Association, or a similar organization, will be needed for access to the press area.

Media Contact
Media can also contact the Public Information Officer for the Freehold Township Police Department, Detective Lieutenant Joseph Winowski at 732-294-5139 or e-mail jwinowski@twp.freehold.nj.us