COVINGTON, Ga. - Local public safety agencies and organizations will participate in an Active Threat Training exercise at Veterans Memorial Middle School Feb. 15. The school will be closed for mid-winter break.

“Our schools will be closed for the break so this is the perfect time for our public safety organizations to participate in a training exercise inside a school building,” Darren Berry, NCSS director of student services, said. “We wanted to make students, parents, and local residents aware of this training event as there will be a large public safety presence at the school and in the general area.

“It’s important that our school system and the local law enforcement agencies practice these types of situations to be fully prepared for an actual emergency event.”

According to Jeff Alexander, investigator for the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, participants in the training exercise will include the school system, NCSO, Newton County Fire, Newton County EMA, Newton County 911, the Newton County Coroner’s Office and other local and state agencies.

“This type of training is part of the ongoing Active Threat/Active Shooter Training being provided for public safety and the Board of Education so that if the need was ever to present itself, local agencies will be prepared to respond and work together," Berry said.