The El Paso County Sheriff's Office stepped up its preparedness game, conducting a full-scale mass casualty training exercise at the El Paso County Jail. According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the drill took place in the jail's kitchen area, simulating the aftermath of an explosion and a fire, resulting in multiple casualties and a series of complex scenarios for emergency response teams to navigate.
The EPSO's Detention Bureau orchestrated the event with the help of local partners, including American Medical Response, the Cimarron Hills Fire Department, and the Colorado Springs Fire Department. The exercise called upon various units such as the EPSO Special Response Team (SRT), and Vital Core medical staff, among others to act out the critical roles of injured staff and inmates with diverse medical needs.
The annual training is not only a requisite for the jail's American Correctional Association (ACA) certification, but it also offers a critical lens through which the Sheriff's Office can reflect on areas needing further attention regarding training and equipment.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal lauded his team’s effort, "I am incredibly proud of our Detention Bureau and the successful results of today’s mass casualty exercise," he said, as obtained by El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Roybal emphasized the importance of such collaborative drills, noting that they "are essential" and serve to hone both skill and critical thinking in high-pressure situations. Despite the complexity, and involvement of agencies, the El Paso County Jail managed to maintain full operational status throughout the training.
