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Highlands Today

Law Enforcement Uses Courthouse For Hostage Drill

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: October 11, 2008

SEBRING - It was like a scene straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Several deputies - wearing bulletproof vests and helmets and carrying automatic weapons - ducked behind vehicles parked near the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and the county courthouse late Thursday morning.

Pedestrians walking in the area may have been under the impression that an escalating event was taking place inside the courthouse.

They would have been wrong, for the deputies were simply taking part in a training exercise that was a joint venture between the sheriff's office and the clerk of the courts.

"It serves to improve and organize response to a critical incident at the courthouse," said Capt. Jeff Barfield with the HCSO.

With the courthouse closed Thursday for a holiday, the Special Response and Crisis Negotiation teams were able to use its space to conduct an exercise.

The scenario included taking hostages inside the courthouse. Law enforcement, which included courthouse bailiffs, then worked to negotiate a peaceful end to the situation, according to Barfield.

Once the scenario was complete, the units had a debriefing to discuss what took place and ways they can improve it.

"We learned, basically, communications," Barfield said. "We learned access routes. We learned things that work and don't work."

In his experience, Barfield does not recall an actual scenario taking place such as the one they were training for Thursday.

However, the practice gives them the opportunity to be ready in case the unthinkable ever happens.

"It serves to organize everything and work out the details before a real situation happens," he said.

Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838.

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