Federal Bureau of Investigation - Buffalo Field Division - Department of Justice Press Release

Today, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Laurie J. Bennett, announces that the FBI will be hosting a regional law enforcement training exercise during the week of May 15 through May 18, 2007. This exercise, held in conjunction with other local, state and federal agencies, will have a visible community presence on May 16 and 17, 2007, when these agencies utilize the Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga, New York, Bond Lake Park, Ransomville, New York, and the Bethlehem Steel Complex, Lackawanna, New York, as part of the training exercise.

The focus of this training is regional preparation for emergency events. The training scenario calls for various levels of law enforcement to work together as a crisis situation unfolds (the details of which even law enforcement participants are unaware of at this time to add realism to the event) over a number of days and in a number of jurisdictions.

This training exercise will not interfere with local activities but the public should be aware that they may see emergency responders taking an active role in this exercise on May 16 and 17, 2007, in the aforementioned locations.

Participants in this event include:

Cheektowaga, New York, Police Department
Erie County, New York, Sheriff's Department
Erie County, New York, Emergency Services
The Galleria Mall
New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC)
New York State Police
Niagara Falls, New York, Air Reserve Station
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection
United States Department of Homeland Security - Coast Guard
United States Department of Homeland Security - Transportation Security Administration

For more information, please contact the Cheektowaga, New York, Police Department or the Buffalo Office of the FBI.