Cubs, City Conduct Active Shooter Drill At Wrigley Field
Updated 07/14/16 - 12:10 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Wrigley Field became the scene of an active shooter drill on Thursday, in an effort to make sure the Friendly Confines remain friendly and safe for fans.
The Cubs partnered with the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the Police Department, and the Fire Department to conduct the exercise.
SWAT officers, firefighters, paramedics, Wrigley Field staff, and police recruits playing the part of the fans ran through the scenario late Thursday morning as the sounds of a ball .
Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Mark Nielsen explained the scenario playing out in the stadium.
"There's going to be two bad guys that are going to basically crash these gates, Gate K. So they're going to attempt to shoot security, and make their way in, and their objective is to try to get into the stands and start shooting," he said.
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If the mock emergency is anything like the drill conducted at Fenway Park in Boston last month, it could look pretty scary if you don't know what's going on.
The Cubs have cautioned neighbors about the exercise, which will include the use of helicopters, flashbangs and simulated gunfire.
"You do these things, it just makes you better. It makes it muscle memory. So it's always beneficial," Nielsen said.
Police did not want media filming the event, and moved reporters and camera crews down the block on Waveland Avenue.
Those taking part inside the ballpark were told not to take any pictures or video of the exercise.
Thursday's drill at Wrigley Field was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., although street closures began at 7 a.m. to allow everyone to set up for the exercise. Waveland Avenue was be closed to cars and pedestrians from Clifton to Kenmore avenues between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The exercise was planned six months ago, long before a sniper ambushed police in Dallas, killing five officers last week. Police said it was timed to coincide with the All-Star break, when the Cubs wouldn't be using the stadium.
