Florence County EMS News - September 9, 2000 FCEMS assists Army National Guard with riot drill

Florence County EMS assists South Carolina Army National Guard, 9-9-2000

Florence County EMS was requested to assist with a civil riot drill being held by the South Carolina Army National Guard, 133^rd Military Police Company, stationed in Florence. This drill is held every year to review procedures to be used in situations of mass confusion, civil disobedience, and chaos. Drills are held so that the MP's in the Guard will be able to control the situation as a unit, avoid unnecessary use of force, and control the situation in an orderly manner. The protesters were all volunteers from local youth groups. Water balloons were used as debris, and there was no actual contact between MP's and protesters, except for ones that were pre-arranged. These people were specially marked to stand out, so there would be no confusion. No one wants a drill to involve real injuries. A drill is to avoid them. The drill was held in the parking lot of the Magnolia Mall on I-20 Spur. Tents were used to represent buildings. FCEMS was represented by Cpt. Chip Culbertson, Sgt. Ron Cain, and Pvt. Tony Fox.

The situation is given in that a crowd has grown out of control, for reasons that they believe something has been done to them, or that they are being denied something. The size of the crowd has grown beyond the capabilities of regular law enforcement. Here, National Guard MP's establish a line, and ask that the protesters leave peaceably.

The protesters have decided to stay, and to show they do not intend to give up, they start throwing things at the MP's. You can see water balloons in the air, and some water splashing.

At this point, the Mayor has gone in to attempt to negotiate with the protesters. During a heated argument with the leader of the group, the Mayor developed chest pains. FCEMS was called to provide treatment. Here, the ambulance is guided into the area where the Mayor is, through a cordoned-off area of MP's.

The Mayor and his assistants are being taken to the back of the ambulance for loading. The doors are kept shut so no one will make a run for the inside of the ambulance, and to keep debris from being thrown inside. The Mayor and assistants are being escorted through the cordoned-off area.

Here, a National Guard MP Marksman surveys the scene. If the situation becomes critically violent, and weapons are used, he must make split second choices to save lives.

Finally, revealed at last. The group was being agitated by a few disgruntled persons. With the ring-leaders unveiled and in custody, the rest of the protest is seen by the protesters as what it was. They were being led to do things at the wishes of others who wanted to disrupt the area for causes not known.

Florence County EMS was requested to assist with a civil riot drill being held by the South Carolina Army National Guard, 133^rd Military Police Company, stationed in Florence. This drill is held every year to review procedures to be used in situations of mass confusion, civil disobedience, and chaos. Drills are held so that the MP's in the Guard will be able to control the situation as a unit, avoid unnecessary use of force, and control the situation in an orderly manner. The protesters were all volunteers from local youth groups. Water balloons were used as debris, and there was no actual contact between MP's and protesters, except for ones that were pre-arranged. These people were specially marked to stand out, so there would be no confusion. No one wants a drill to involve real injuries. A drill is to avoid them. The drill was held in the parking lot of the Magnolia Mall on I-20 Spur. Tents were used to represent buildings. FCEMS was represented by Cpt. Chip Culbertson, Sgt. Ron Cain, and Pvt. Tony Fox.
	The situation is given in that a crowd has grown out of control, for reasons that they believe something has been done to them, or that they are being denied something. The size of the crowd has grown beyond the capabilities of regular law enforcement. Here, National Guard MP's establish a line, and ask that the protesters leave peaceably.
	The protesters have decided to stay, and to show they do not intend to give up, they start throwing things at the MP's. You can see water balloons in the air, and some water splashing.
	At this point, the Mayor has gone in to attempt to negotiate with the protesters. During a heated argument with the leader of the group, the Mayor developed chest pains. FCEMS was called to provide treatment. Here, the ambulance is guided into the area where the Mayor is, through a cordoned-off area of MP's.
	The Mayor and his assistants are being taken to the back of the ambulance for loading. The doors are kept shut so no one will make a run for the inside of the ambulance, and to keep debris from being thrown inside. The Mayor and assistants are being escorted through the cordoned-off area.
	Here, a National Guard MP Marksman surveys the scene. If the situation becomes critically violent, and weapons are used, he must make split second choices to save lives.
	Finally, revealed at last. The group was being agitated by a few disgruntled persons. With the ring-leaders unveiled and in custody, the rest of the protest is seen by the protesters as what it was. They were being led to do things at the wishes of others who wanted to disrupt the area for causes not known.