Active shooter drill at Fort Hamilton

On Thursday morning, July 27, the Fort Hamilton Army Base conducted a full-scale active shooter drill, in close cooperation with several emergency responders that included New York City’s Police, Fire, EMS and Emergency Management Departments.

At 10:15 a.m., the base was under a lockdown order with the scenario of two armed assailants terrorizing and “killing” three people and a Fort Hamilton police officer, in addition to wounding 33 others.

There were two crime scenes, first on the bluff overlooking the Narrows and then at the Community Club. Both perps were killed while firing their weapons at police officers.

Commenting on the incident, U.S. Army Garrison Commander Peter Sicoli said, “Emergency and rescue crews responded quickly and professionally. We are taking every possible precaution to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Would like to thank all for their quick response and heroic efforts under such trying circumstances. Public cooperation will help protect against possible injuries and enable base agencies to more effectively deal with the situation.”

About 50 volunteers participated in the drill by acting as victims and hostages. The Red Cross was also on site to volunteer its services.

Fort Hamilton is the only active military base in New York City and is situated on the southern tip of New York, adjacent to the Brooklyn side of the Verrazano Bridge.