To: USC Students, Faculty and Staff
From: David Wright, Senior Vice President, Administration
Date: May 15, 2023
Subject: Active shooter drill on Mat 18 at the Health Sciences Campus
The USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) regularly partners with other first responder agencies in drills to help law enforcement officials practice working together in response to a critical situation.
This Thursday, May 18, DPS will partner with the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, and others in a drill at the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) that will simulate an active shooter situation.
The drill will be in the quad outside of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine, and participants also will be in the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute.
To create a more realistic drill, we will use visual and audio effects to set the stage, including the use of replica weapons and actors with simulated injuries. The fire department officials will remove “injured” actors and attend to their injuries nearby. Additionally, University Communications, the Office of Threat Assessment and Management, Campus Support & Intervention, and Counseling & Mental Health will participate in the response, as they would in a real event.
Please anticipate seeing a large number of uniformed officers at HSC. Portions of the Eastlake Lot and the Consolidated Lot will be closed from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Please avoid this area of campus on Thursday if at all possible.
Participants will begin to gather on campus at 8 a.m. The first drill will start at around 10 a.m., and a second drill will start at around 11:30 a.m.
We appreciate your understanding as we work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure we are all appropriately trained and coordinated for emergency responses at the university. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact DPS at (213) 740-6000.