HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – If you live near certain Hillsborough County schools over the next couple of weeks, don’t panic if you see a sudden flood of patrol cars and flashing lights. It’s only a drill.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is kicking off a series of intensive, active threat response training exercises at local campuses starting today. The drills are designed to help school resource deputies, patrol deputies, and specialized units practice working together and sharpen their rapid-response tactics during worst-case scenarios.
Because the training uses real campuses, the sheriff’s office wants neighbors to know exactly when and where to expect a heavy police presence.
The training schedule runs as follows:
- Wednesday, June 3, 2026: Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico and Ben Hill Middle School in Carrollwood.
- Thursday, June 4, 2026: Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico.
- Wednesday, June 10, 2026: Bloomingdale High School in Brandon and Sickles High School in Tampa.
- Thursday, June 11, 2026: Sickles High School in Tampa.
Officials emphasize that all exercises are happening during non-school hours, and safety precautions are firmly in place to ensure the drills stay completely contained.
“Training like this is critical to ensuring our deputies are prepared to respond when every second counts,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Using real school campuses during non-school hours allows our teams to strengthen communication, improve response tactics, and enhance coordination between units. The safety of our students and staff will always remain our top priority.”
Law enforcement is asking residents near these schools to keep the schedule in mind and remain aware of their surroundings, but reiterates that the increased activity is strictly for practice.
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