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BMW and first responders stage active shooter drill

Staff Report //September 23, 2019//

BMW and first responders stage active shooter drill

Staff Report //September 23, 2019//

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BMW Manufacturing, along with Spartanburg County law enforcement agencies and first responders, held a full-scale active shooter training exercise on the BMW campus Friday.

The training took place inside and around BMW’s 70,000 square-foot battery assembly building off Brockman-McClimon Road. The exercise simulated an active shooter inside the building and was designed to appear as realistic as possible in order to test the abilities of first responders, according to a news release.

“While we never want a tragic situation like this to occur, we realize that BMW must partner with local law enforcement to have a quick and effective response in case of an emergency such as this,” Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing, said in the news release. “We provided a realistic place for law enforcement and first responders to train without disrupting our daily production. The exercise also allowed our BMW Corporate Security team and senior management to review our emergency response plans and collaborate with law enforcement on handling these dangerous situations.”

Sheriff Chuck Wright said it was the largest event of its kind in county history.

“We appreciate BMW allowing the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office this unique opportunity to participate in this active shooter training,” Wright said in the release. “This event is the largest exercise this agency has ever participated in, and because of its scale, it will only enhance our tactics and response if such an unfortunate event were to ever occur. This agency has been involved from the onset with the planning of this event since it began several months ago, and we remain impressed with the professionalism and dedication of all involved.”

An estimated 120 people took part in the training exercise, the release said. The scenario included the participation of 38 BMW employees who portrayed victims inside the building. Before the exercise began, several employees received makeup to create realistic injuries.

“This drill gave me a greater appreciation of what law enforcement experiences in an emergency,” said BMW associate Eric Spicer, who played a victim during the training.

“Even though this wasn’t real, when I heard the gunshots inside this building, it sent chills through me,” he said in the release. “I hope I never have to experience a situation like this. I’m very glad BMW is taking a proactive role in training for an emergency like this.”

Over the past five years, training exercises within the BMW Group have included simulated systems failures and cyber-attacks, the release said.

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