On February 5, 2025, the Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System (MDERS) hosted a tabletop exercise (TTX) focused on interjurisdictional public order response. This three-hour exercise brought together participants from the Maryland State Police (MSP), Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) to evaluate their preparedness levels for managing large-scale demonstrations. The primary objectives of the exercise were to assess interagency collaboration and decision-making during planned and unplanned public order events. Participants analyzed resource deployment, communication strategies, and tactical decision-making, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Key discussions focused on crowd management strategies, identifying appropriate moments for intervention, and planning for potential escalations.
Public order events can range from planned demonstrations and large gatherings to spontaneous incidents that escalate quickly. These events also require public officials to balance demonstrators’ First Amendment rights and intervening, when necessary, to ensure public safety. Law enforcement agencies need extensive coordination, training, and manpower, both internally and externally, to manage these events.
To evaluate the current personnel, training, communication, tactics, and equipment for each stakeholder agency, MDERS collaborated with MSP, MCPD, MCSO, and PGPD to assess an interjurisdictional response in each Montgomery and Prince George’s County. MDERS formed a workgroup with representatives from these law enforcement agencies and over a two-month planning period developed two distinct scenarios:
- A pre-planned demonstration, where law enforcement had prior knowledge and time to coordinate resources. This scenario was set in Montgomery County, with MCPD leading the planning phase and PGPD providing valuable input.
- An impromptu gathering that rapidly escalated, requiring immediate response and decision-making. This scenario was set in Prince George’s County, with PGPD providing immediate response and requesting assistance from MCPD.
In an innovative twist, MDERS introduced maneuverable demonstrator pieces to mimic the dynamic crowd movements during these events. The incorporation of crowd movements, in conjunction with vehicle manipulatives, across a large map replicated a more realistic scenario for exercise participants to strategize and manage the incident.
After the exercise, MDERS distributed a short feedback survey, allowing participants to highlight strengths and identify areas for improvement in exercise facilitation. Additionally, participants provided feedback on the training and discussed potential future training opportunities. Based on the feedback received and the actions evaluated, MDERS will create an after-action report to assess the overall effectiveness of the exercise and inform future planning.
The success of this exercise underscores MDERS’s commitment to proactive preparedness and regional coordination. By training together in a structured, discussion-based environment, law enforcement agencies can refine their response strategies and enhance their ability to manage real-world public order incidents effectively.
Written by Elizabeth Adams