Danville Public Schools (DPS) will conduct an active shooter drill on Friday, October 11, at Galileo High School beginning at 2 p.m. This day is a full professional development day for teachers so there will be no Galileo students on campus during the active drill.
On drill day, please stay away from the area so as not to impede the progress of the drill. There will be barricades set up at the following intersections during the drill: the intersection of Wilson St. and S. Ridge St., Loyal St. and S. Ridge St., Patton St. and S. Ridge St., Loyal St. and Boatwright Ave., and Boatwright Ave. and Patton St., just south of 204 Boatwright Ave. There will be access to Heritage Towers.
Here is what nearby residents, drivers, and business owners can expect in the area the day of the drill:
- Signs announcing the exercise,
- Large number of uniformed police, fire, and EMS personnel on school grounds and in the area surrounding the school,
- Sounds of simulated gunshots inside the high school, • Ambulances transporting acting victims away from the school, and
- Media presence.
“This event has been in the planning stages for a year. Numerous agencies will be participating in this drill, and our goal will be to practice our response to an active shooter. Lessons learned from this drill will improve our practice and better prepare our staff and community,” stated Superintendent Stanley B. Jones.
“Through this active drill, we hope to strengthen our relationship with local, state, and federal response agencies,” stated William Chaney, Director of Safety and Security for Danville Public Schools.
“We feel fortunate that we have all these resources dedicated to the safety of our schools and community.”
Local participants in the drill include, but are not limited to: Danville Public Schools, Danville Police Department, Danville Fire Department, Danville Life Saving Crew, Danville Sheriff’s Office, SOVAH Health, VA State Police, Danville Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Department of Criminal Justice Services, Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and Pittsylvania County Emergency Management.
Efforts to communicate with the community include, but are not limited to: social media posts, signage, phone calls to Galileo parents, and door-to-door visits by the Danville Police Department to neighboring residents and businesses.
Media access and interviews will be available the afternoon after the training at Galileo High School.