Elmhurst Hospital holds Full-Scale Active Threat Exercise

Elmhurst Hospital, in partnership with the Elmhurst Police and Fire Departments, held an Active Threat Full-Scale Exercise on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

The exercise featured an Elmhurst police officer who played the role of an upset husband whose wife had died at the hospital. As part of the drill, the man, who was armed with a fake gun and demanding to see someone in charge, took two hostages and held them in an office in the administration area of the hospital.

Elmhurst police officers later entered the room to rescue the hostages and take into custody the active shooter. Elmhurst Fire Department paramedics treated the man, who had a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The hospital holds several drills each year to prepare and test its responses in the event of a disaster in Elmhurst or surrounding communities.