The Suffolk County Police Department took part in active shooter training drills today, but the setting was a little different than what the officers are used to.

Today’s drill took place on the Port Jefferson ferry.

“That’s why we chose this location,” Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said. “The potential is there, but I want to make sure that my officers as well as our partnering agencies are ready to respond.”

The Suffolk Count Police Department and United States Coast Guard are teaming up with the Port Jefferson Steamboat Company to make sure they’re all prepared in the event of an emergency on board a passenger ferry.

“The key thing is that we get to meet the people we will be interacting with in the event of a real situation, so we meet the people, we get to know them,” said Fred Hall, vice president and general manager of the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company.

The latest training is all part of Suffolk County’s plan to increase and expand active shooter drills.

County Executive Steve Bellone recently approved $100,000 to double the drills and seven have already been held this year.

“We take these lessons learned from these incidents, these drills, and make it better for the real time situation,” said Capt. Eva Van Camp, Coast Guard commander of the Long Island Sound.

On top of taking down an active shooter, they also learn about packing wounds and treating victims and how to apply a tourniquet to themselves.
It’s practice under pressure, in case it ever becomes a reality.

“It can happen," Harrison said. “But I’m going to make sure that if it does, we are prepared to respond at a moments notice.”

Harrison says next up they will be meeting with principals at Suffolk County schools to set up more of these active shooter emergency drills. He says they are critically important in keeping the county safe.