The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Campus Police Department, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), recently conducted a critical tabletop exercise focusing on terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The exercise, dubbed “Bluff City Thunder,” was a part of the ongoing Silent Thunder Exercise Series, which aims to strengthen cooperation among local, state, and federal agencies in responding to WMD incidents.
The Bluff City Thunder exercise focused on a hypothetical terrorist-related WMD incident impacting both UT Health Science Center and the greater Memphis community. It provided a unique opportunity for leaders from 72 different agencies to assess and refine their crisis and consequence management capabilities in response to a terrorist event.
“The training focused on our response protocol to a physical breach of our system, as well as the collaborative response from area first responders to mitigate this attack and similar breaches,” Campus Police Chief Anthony Berryhill said. “A personal thanks goes out to all our local, county, state, and federal partners who helped develop, fund, participate, and facilitate this training with a shared goal of making significant difference in public safety.”
Held August 14 at the Hyatt Centric Hotel in Downtown Memphis, the exercise brought together 146 participants from various organizations, including the offices of Human Resources, Communications and Marketing, Information Technology Services, Research Safety Affairs, and Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs at UT Health Science Center; the Memphis Police and Fire departments; the Shelby County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security; and several local hospitals. The collaborative environment allowed for a comprehensive review of resources and strategies, ensuring preparedness for a potential terrorist incident.
“The training provided stakeholders of our university with valuable information regarding local, state, and federal resources available in the event of a terrorist-related incident involving radiological material,” said A.C. Knight, deputy chief of the UT Health Science Center Campus Police Department. “The adage ‘There’s no time like the present’ rings true when it comes to discussing and preparing for such an incident.”
The Bluff City Thunder exercise served as a vital component in the ongoing efforts to enhance emergency response capabilities and ensure the safety and security of UT Health Science Center and the Memphis community in the face of potential threats.
Campus Police’s Emergency Response Plan provides a system for managing emergencies severe enough to significantly disrupt activity on the UT Health Science Center campus and in the surrounding community. In addition to terrorism, examples of these emergencies include active shooters, severe weather, and fire.
The Campus Police Department recently received its second Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation (TLEA) from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP). It is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. These accreditations recognize the department meets a high number of standards in its mission to protect and serve students, faculty, staff, and visitors on campus and in the community.
For more information about Campus Police and its safety and preparedness efforts, visit uthsc.edu/campus-police.