Valley first responders hold live training exercise at Phoenix Zoo

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Police officers have to be prepared for everything and emergency situations can happen anywhere, even at the zoo.

"These are excellent opportunities for our first responders who work this particular area to train in real time on the ground in an actual environment that they would normally respond to," said Sgt. Vice Lewis with the Phoenix Police Department.

Today, members of the Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale Police Departments held a live training exercise at the Phoenix Zoo.

The focus of today was an active shooter drill, something Sgt. Lewis says is critical to be prepared for.

"To create essentially a mock critical incident and test our first responders to see how well they would address that issue," he said.

This is just one of thousands of scenarios Valley police train to handle. Sgt. Lewis says the more hands on experience can directly translate to being ready for the unexpected.

"To see it from the inside to start thinking about those types of special considerations that we would need if we were to respond to an emergency here at this location," he said.