WHO: Eight law enforcement tactical teams from across New York State participate in the inaugural Tactical Week training event. During the week, tactical teams will hone their skills to respond to some of the most challenging and dangerous calls for service.

Participating tactical teams:

• Albany Police Department
• Erie County Sheriff’s Office
• Madison County Sheriff’s Office
• Nassau County Police Department
• New Rochelle Police Department
• Orange County Sheriff’s Office
• Utica Area Metro Regional Team
• White Plains Police Department

WHAT: Media Day at Tactical Week at the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) organized by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES).

Reporters, photographers, and videographers can view portions of exercises involving law enforcement tactical teams. Members of the media can also tour the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), a world-class facility that regularly provides scenario-based training for first responders and government officials.

Media will view the following exercises:

• A vehicle ramming scenario (inspired by recent events in Stockholm, London, Berlin, and Nice) followed by a pursuit of the suspect involved. 
• A large-scale manhunt for a suspect (inspired by a recent event in Pennsylvania) that incorporates the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology for the first time in training at the Center. 
• A hostage rescue situation where tactical teams rescue one of their officers held captive. 

WHEN: Thursday, May 18, 2017, 8:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Registration between 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Media tour of the SPTC, viewing of key exercise sites, and interview opportunities with experts until 11:00 a.m. Media representatives will be escorted around the facility; additionally, because training exercises are scheduled ahead of time, it is important to arrive promptly for check-in.

WHERE: The New York State Preparedness Training Center, 5900 Airport Road, Oriskany, N.Y. 13424. Media attendees must RSVP to be admitted to Tactical Week. Upon arrival, please park in the student/visitor lot on the right. After parking, please enter the main Education and Administration Building. Public Information Officers will meet you at check-in, and then escort you through the SPTC to view active training.

WHY: Tactical Teams respond to some of the most challenging and dangerous calls for service in New York State, including active shooter events, high-risk warrants and hostage rescue situations. Given the myriad of threats they respond to, these teams must constantly train to ensure their safe and effective response. DHSES designed Tactical Week to bring teams from across the State to train together in sophisticated, hands-on training scenarios.

RSVP: Due to the sensitive nature of the training and security at the facility, media must RSVP in advance, making it imperative that media outlets RSVP by Wednesday, May 17. To do so, please contact Chet Lasell at chet.lasell@dhses.ny.gov or (518) 402-6472 with the names of any reporters, photographers, and videographers planning to attend; the media outlet they represent; and contact information. Credentials will be provided at check-in.

About the SPTC

The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), operated by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, affords state, local, and federal agencies a complex of training venues to conduct the entire spectrum of training. From classroom lectures and discussions to reality- and high-performance scenario-based training, the SPTC offers opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training. The SPTC offers agencies realistic training environments such as a simulated city, residential housing complex, collapsed building rubble pile, woodland structures and other settings. Now in its 11th year of operation, the SPTC annually trains thousands of New York’s first responders, including law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), and emergency management personnel, in a variety of areas including response to active shooter events, emergency vehicle operations, EMS special situations, and patrol officer survival.

About DHSES

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications --  provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.