According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 229 active-shooter incidents occurred in the United States between 2019 and 2023. From those recorded incidents, nearly 500 individuals were killed and nearly 700 were wounded. 

To ensure the safety of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Salt River police, fire and Emergency Management departments held a mock active-shooter training session on August 21 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale. Selected Great Wolf Lodge staff members attended the demonstration to learn how to respond if an active-shooter situation were to occur. 

Emergency Management coordinator Joseph Urrea helped facilitate the realistic demonstration, which featured live blank AK-47 ammunition, appropriate makeup for injuries/wounds, and a “hotwash” post-training meeting. A hotwash is a discussion and evaluation held after a training exercise to record the strengths and weaknesses of the group’s response. 

“Today’s exercise is a full-scale exercise,” said Urrea. “That means all players are going to be responding to the incident as though it is a real-world event.” The morning demonstration began promptly at 8 a.m. and lasted one hour. 

Individuals taking part in the training received wristbands denoting whether they were an observer or a participant in the training. O’odham Action News was at the scene and saw countless members of the Salt River fire and police departments teaming up to protect the Community. All observers wore noise-cancelling earbuds and protective eyeglasses during the exercise. 

SRPMIC President Martin Harvier, Council member Cheryl Doka and Council member Deanna Scabby were observers and took the time to discuss continued safety plans with Salt River Police Chief Walter Holloway and Salt River Fire Chief Tsosie Wood. 

Additionally, because the demonstration was a full-scale training event, members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation fire department also observed the SRPMIC training. 

In the moments leading up to the training, police officers removed all ammunition from their weapons and ensured that their team had properly prepared for the full-scale demonstration. Firefighters wore helmets and bulletproof vests labeled “Fire Dept” and carried medical supplies to provide aid. 

Selected individuals were chosen to perform specific roles, including severely wounded and deceased individuals and a person playing the role of the shooter. All of the SRPMIC police and fire department members who participated ensured that every ”victim” inside the Great Wolf Lodge received the proper treatment, even if they were role-playing an individual who was deceased as a result of the mock shooting.

After the all-clear was given to end the exercise, attendees gathered in the Great Wolf Lodge ballroom where President Harvier thanked every individual for their dedication to ensuring the safety of the people of the Community. 

“I just want to thank everyone who organized this training,” said President Harvier. “These trainings are so important. I appreciate everybody who was a part of this; it has opened my eyes. We hope … and pray that things like this never happen.”