6 Months After Pulse Massacre, Miami Police Simulate Nightclub Shooting For Training
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – There were plenty of tense moments Monday at a popular Downtown Miami nightclub, even if all involved knew was a drill.
The scenario: an active shooter inside a nightclub packed with party goers.
With mass causalities simulated, wave after wave of police officers moved into the club in an attempt to neutralize the situation and save lives.
It's an issue police departments know can happen anywhere, anytime.
That's exactly why Miami police designed and carried out this complex training exercise.
"We have this program going into training that we are developing in order to better train the officer in conjunction with the fire department," explained Miami police Officer Yelitza Cedano.
At the training, heavily armed police officers were trailed by Miami fire rescue units.
Covered in brown gear and helmets, paramedics treated the victims on the spot.
It used to be that fire rescue waited until buildings were cleared before entering to render aid to the wounded.
"So now we are working in conjunction to be able to eliminate the casualties," said Cedano.
The scenario went on all day at Club Space, a well-known nightclub in the heart of Downtown Miami's entertainment district.
"We try and make the stressors real enough for them to act and it is pretty stressful for the officers and I believe they are doing a great job," said Cedano.
The training took place on the six month mark of the Pulse nightclub massacre, the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
