Active Shooter Drill At Paramus Mall Gauges Police Response

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Paramus police and the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management conducted a small-scale active shooter drill that drew nearly 100 responders Sunday morning to the Garden State Plaza in Paramus.

Among the departments summoned were Hackensack, Maywood, Ridgewood and Rochelle Park police, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff's Office.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Paramus Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg (r) with head of Garden State Plaza security.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Responders had to check in before being relieved.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

"This is just to test how fast area departments respond," Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg told Daily Voice.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Responders began arriving at 10:15 a.m.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Several emergency service agencies were being notified via the State Police Emergency Network to dispatch personnel to the south side of the mall near the AMC Garden State 16 theaters.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Cecilia Levine

11/08/2015 2:00 p.m.

"This is just to test how fast area departments respond," Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg told Daily Voice. "It's not a large-scale drill."

Several emergency service agencies were notified via the State Police Emergency Network to dispatch personnel to the parking lot on the south side of the mall near the AMC Garden State 16 theaters. They simply had to check in and then were relieved, Ehrenbery said.

Among the departments summoned were Hackensack, Fair Lawn, Maywood, Ridgewood and Rochelle Park police, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff's Office Regional SWAT. They began arriving at 10:15 a.m. after a Girls On the Run 5K race around the mall had ended.

With stores in Bergen County closed on Sunday, impact on area traffic was expected to be minor.

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