Press Release

North Plainfield Police Department

November 4, 2008

North Plainfield Chief of Police William G. Parenti, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest and North Plainfield School Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum announce that the North Plainfield Police Department, the Somerset County Emergency Response Team and the North Plainfield Public Schools will be conducting a Crisis Preparedness Drill on November 6, 2008.

The Somerset County Emergency Response Team, the North Plainfield Police Department and the North Plainfield Public Schools will train together and conduct a full scale crisis drill at the high school and middle school campus on Wilson Avenue on Thursday November 6, 2008.  Residents should be aware that a large number of police, fire and emergency medical support personnel will be training in and around the area of Wilson Avenue, Chestnut Street and Harrison Avenue on Thursday from around 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   The training is designed to help school officials, police, fire and EMS better respond to a crisis in our schools.  Since the 1999 Columbine tragedy, police and emergency services from around the nation routinely train to better prepare for large scale emergencies on our school campuses.  This exercise will help officials prevent and better respond to a severe crisis.   Also participating in the drill will be the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, the North Plainfield Fire Department and the North Plainfield Volunteer Rescue Squad.  Volunteers from the student body, including students enrolled in the ROTC program and parents, will participate in the exercise.   The Somerset  Medical Center is also conducting a surge drill in conjunction with the crisis drill to deal with the sudden influx of a large amount of emergency patients.   Residents with any questions or concerns may contact the North Plainfield Police Department non emergent phone number 908-769-2937. 

Media question should be directed to Chief Parenti 908-769-2323 or email wparenti@npmail.org