COURT HOUSE OPERATIONS PARTICIPATES IN CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE

The County of Cumberland will be conducting a full scale critical incident exercise at the Cumberland County Court House on Thursday March 21, 2013. The Court House will be closed from 7:00 am until 12:00 Noon. The Public should be aware that the will be completed before noon and will involve response to an “active shooter scenario”.

Public Safety Liaison Freeholder Joe Derella said, “This exercise is being conducted to better prepare our State, County and local public safety personnel for response to a critical incident inside the Cumberland County Court House. The public should be aware that the exercise will be completed before noon and involve response to a ‘simulated’ active shooting scenario.

Freeholder Director Bill Whelan said, “Court House Security will be Law enforcement Officers wearing Police Traffic Vests for any real world issues security during the exercise. These Officers will be posted outside the courthouse to ensure that no one enters the courthouse who is not participating in the exercise”.

Cumberland County Sheriff Bob Austino advises that “there will not be any ‘real world’ courtroom activities or other activities involving the public during this exercise. We ask that anyone not involved in this exercise, to please keep a safe distance from both the Court House and Parking Garage while this exercise scenario plays out.

If anyone from the public or citizens not a part of this exercise has questions, please call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 856-451-4449 and ask for Undersheriff Norman Franckle.