CERT officers to train in building on Memorial Square

CHAMBERSBURG -- Law enforcement and corrections officers from five counties will stage Wednesday on Memorial Square for a training exercise.

The officers will simulate hostage situations in the former commissioner's complex, also known as the Chambersburg Trust building, 14 N. Main St. The vacant building next door to the courthouse is to be demolished this winter to make way for a judicial center.

“We are pleased to be able to host a training of this scale," said David Keller, chairman of the county commissioners. "This simulation will help to keep our special teams at peak performance and ready for emergencies.”

About 90 people will participate in the training. Correctional Emergency Response Teams (CERT) from Franklin, Dauphin, Butler, Centre and Somerset counties will attend. Chambersburg Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Franklin County Adult Probation and the county Department of Emergency Services also will join in.

“In the case of a critical event where we’d need more teams, these are the counties we’d call,” said Franklin County Jail Warden Bill Bechtold. “Being able to train together is invaluable."

The building at 191 Franklin Farm Lane and the Wogans building on North Main Street have been used for similar training, according to a county spokeswoman.

The full-day event starts at 9 a.m. The closed training is closed to the public.

Combined Public Communications, GTL, PrimeCare Medical, L. R. Kimball, AFCME 589, and the Franklin County Jail Employee Club sponsor the event.