The Westfield Police Department hosted the Sports and Special Events Incident Management Course for city employees at the Grand Park Events Center on Dec. 12 and 13.
“This course is important to Westfield because it provided a unique opportunity for members of our public safety team to interact and train with members of the Grand Park staff, its stakeholders, and representatives from Division 1 universities that utilize our facilities,” explained Assistant Chief of Police Scott Jordan. “The training will enable us to effectively plan and manage our response to emergency incidents and special events in a unified way.”
The Sports and Special Events Incident Management Course provided participants with the necessary skills and training to plan for and effectively manage an emergency that occurs during a sporting or special event. Attendees used practical application, such as role-playing exercises to learn techniques and protocols, which follow the National Incident Management System, also known as NIMS.
Participants learned:
- How to develop structured response plans that can work for all hazards and incidents
- A detailed framework for special event planning
- Vulnerability and risk assessments
- Mitigation and resiliency strategies
The Sports and Special Events Incident Management course was provided by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security. TEEX is home to the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC). NERRTC offers preparedness courses to emergency responders, public works staff and medical personnel from around the country.
“We are thrilled to bring this course to Grand Park in Westfield,” says associate training specialist Andrew Stowers of TEEX. “Grand Park can host thousands of visitors a day during its peak season, which makes this course essential for emergency personnel and for those directly involved in the day-to-day operations.”
To build on this training, the Westfield Police Department will be hosting the scenario-based Enhanced Sports and Special Events Incident Management TEEX course at Grand Park in January 2018. During this course, participants will engage in three simulation supported emergency response exercises designed to improve individual and team management and decision-making skills related to large-scale emergency incidents.