The Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety will conduct an emergency exercise on the east side of campus Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The training is part of MSU DPPS’s efforts to meet the standards of the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.
“We want to strive for preparedness and these types of exercises really help us with the planning and the actual tactical practice when it comes to emergencies,” MSU DPPS spokesperson Nadia Vizueta said.
Vizueta said the exercise will center around a specific emergency scenario, but law enforcement and other participants will not know the full details until the day of the event.
“We want them to come to the situation as if it was a real emergency,” Vizueta said. “As you know, when emergencies arise, we don't know necessarily what it’s going to be in advance, so we want to simulate those same elements where the different emergency personnel responding aren’t aware of what the specific scenario is until they encounter it the day of.”
Vizueta said the exercise area will be bounded by the Wharton Center, Hagadorn Road, Wilson Road and Shaw Lane.
MSU DPPS Police Chief Mike Yankowski said public safety remains the top priority for both the department and the university.
“Our mission is always focused around providing a safe environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” Yankowski said. “Just like with any component, if you don’t practice your skill sets, then you won’t perform well when you need to use those skill sets.”
Yankowski said Tuesday’s exercise is a crucial part of MSU DPPS’s ongoing training, which involves coordination with the East Lansing Fire Department, East Lansing EMS, the Ingham County 911 system and other emergency services.
“We wanted to be able to practice on campus and those skill sets and get our responding agencies some familiarity of campus as well,” Yankowski said.
Yankowski said participating in exercises helps law enforcement personnel both mentally and physically, allowing them to slow down and make sound, critical decisions during real emergencies.
Yankowski stated that it was important to alert the community about the exercise. In 2023, a campus shooting left three students dead and five others injured. For some individuals the exercise could trigger an emotional response. Yankowski said Campus Support Resources for students, staff and faculty will be made available through the department’s website.
“We recognize that in any type of emergency situation can be traumatic, either as a victim or as a witness or as someone in the moment of that emergency,” Yankowski said.
Yankowski said the university will not activate its emergency alert system during Tuesday’s training exercise.
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