On March 3rd, the Maryland-NCR Emergency Response System (MDERS), in collaboration with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), conducted a tabletop exercise (TTX) designed to enhance command and control capabilities in response to a high-threat incident. The scenario, which involved two active shooters entering a school, provided an opportunity for command staff to refine their decision-making and coordination strategies in a complex, high-pressure environment.

The exercise challenged participants to manage resources effectively, maintain situational awareness, and make critical decisions under stress while coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies and Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS).

Key Objectives and Outcomes

First-On-Scene Leadership
Recognizing the importance of immediate action, the exercise included scenarios where patrol officers had to operate independently for the first 5–10 minutes before reinforcements arrived. This tested their ability to make critical decisions under pressure, communicate situational updates, and initiate the foundation for an organized response.

Command & Control
One of the primary objectives was to assess the ability of command staff to establish and maintain operational control during the unfolding crisis. The exercise tested how well commanders could structure their response, delegate responsibilities, and adapt to changing conditions in real time.

Resource Management
With a multi-agency response being a crucial component of any large-scale emergency, the exercise evaluated the ability of participants to coordinate resources across different jurisdictions.

Decision-Making Under Stress
The scenario placed significant emphasis on enhancing participants’ ability to make rapid, high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. Through multiple simulated injects and radio transmissions, command staff were required to prioritize response actions, manage evolving threats, and make strategic choices that impacted the overall outcome of the exercise.

Situational Awareness & Tracking
Ensuring personnel accountability and effectively tracking resources was another critical objective. Participants refined their skills in staging management, tracking deployed teams, and maintaining real-time awareness of the operational environment. This aspect of the exercise reinforced the need for robust information-sharing and disciplined resource allocation.

MDERS remains committed to providing ongoing exercise support to our Montgomery and Prince George’s County law enforcement stakeholders. These exercises are tailored to bolster response capabilities, fortify our communities’ resilience, and allow for improvement through the after-action report (AAR) process.

Written by Hannah Thomas