LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) – Don’t be shocked if you see more police activity on the University of Kentucky campus on Thursday, as UK will host a full-scale crisis exercise near Kroger Field, led by the UK Police and the Division of Crisis Management and Preparedness.
This exercise will begin around 8 a.m. and will finish in the afternoon. If you see large numbers of emergency response personnel on campus, including police, fire and EMS, do not be alarmed — this is only a drill. Community members should be aware that some parking near Kroger Field will be impacted that day.
The exercise is designed to test and strengthen the university’s emergency response systems in a realistic, fast-moving scenario, all part of UK’s ongoing commitment to preparedness and safety.
“These exercises are about more than just response time,” said UK Police Chief Joe Monroe. “They test communication under pressure, the flow of information, how different agencies work together, and ultimately, how we protect our students, faculty, staff and visitors when it matters most.”
The exercise will involve a number of partners including UK HealthCare, UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications, and personnel from the Emergency Operations Center, all working from a single scenario, played out over several hours in a designated area of campus. Local, state and federal law enforcement will also participate.
While operations will remain open and safe for daily activities, community members may notice emergency vehicles, role-players and a visible increase in the presence of first responders. Everything will be clearly marked and communicated as part of the exercise.
Each full-scale exercise provides UKPD and its partners with an opportunity to refine protocols, practice inter-agency coordination, and identify gaps or areas for improvement.
But beyond the technical aspects, Monroe said, these exercises also serve as an important reminder.
“Safety isn’t just about one department or one day. It’s about readiness,” Monroe said. Our hope is that these exercises encourage everyone to take a moment and ask, ‘Am I prepared? Do I know what to do?’ That awareness, that mindset, is something we want across our campus.”
For more information about UKPD’s safety efforts or emergency preparedness at UK, go to police.uky.edu or contact the Division of Crisis Management & Preparedness at CMP@uky.edu.
