RivCo Police Stage Active Shooter Drill At Westfield Mall

PALM DESERT, CA — Cries, shouts and the thuds of charging police boots echoed through the Westfield Mall in Palm Desert on Sunday morning, as police staged an active shooter drill to test the preparedness of law enforcement and medical response teams.

The drill, organized by the Riverside County Sheriff's and Fire departments as well as other law enforcement and healthcare workers, included volunteers who acted as injured victims and bystanders.

Video posted by the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station shows onlookers standing behind barricades as police enter the mall with their guns drawn. "Victims," sprawled on the ground, are tended to by medics and carried out on stretchers.

"We need to prepare in all situations," said Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Mike Vasquez, noting that public spaces like malls are often targeted in mass shootings. "[The drill also] offers the ability to have a collaborative effort with all agencies."

The public was encouraged to avoid the mall Sunday morning, with the drill set to last from around 7 to 11 a.m.

"Yesterday, our deputies participated in a multi-agency effort to simulate mass casualty & evaluate response of law enforcement, Fire/EMS, private industry & healthcare system," the Palm Desert Sheriff's station said on Facebook Monday morning. "It was awesome to see everyone come together and work as a team."

City News Service contributed to this report.