LEXINGTON, Ky. — With police and emergency responders spread across campus, as mock shots rang out Thursday morning, the University of Kentucky began its first full-scale active aggressor simulation.

Imitating a real-life scenario, local and state emergency teams had stretchers, trucks and tactical gear, while briefings and info were shared around the hour. This came as the majority of students were away from campus. 

Desiree Pliler of Texas A&M said the school worked with UK for more than six months to prepare for what is occurring in such spaces across the U.S. 

“We want to come into an area and prepare them start to finish for any kind of disaster response, whether it's weather, manmade, anything like that," Pliler said. 

With drones flying across campus and participants set up outside of the White Hall classroom, the emergency preparation drill is one of several initiatives UK implements throughout the year to keep students and staff safe in case of an emergency.  

More than 150 emergency responders participated, with more than 50 others volunteering as victims, creating a realistic experience. 

The University of Kentucky utilized campus space outside of White Hall classroom May 30, 2024, while students were away for an active aggressor exercise. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

“You've got the (University of Kentucky Police Department); you've got Lexington PD and Fire. How are they going to all respond?” Pliler said. “It's a group effort when you do this kind of a response and then how are they going to command and control this scene from a perimeter, from the media, from angry parents, from all of the facets that they're going to have to engage, not just the shooter?"

Chief Joe Monroe said it's important having all crisis responders aware of plans and procedures. 

"We've done everything from a response as well as our communications plan in our testing, our (Emergency Operations Center), as well as our hospital's mass casualty plan,” Monroe said. 

The team of responders will use the test to determine improvements to strengthen their response.