Occasionally, I’ve heard tell of instances where tests/drills of emergency response practices for crime are done in instances where there are unaware/innocent bystanders. E.g. a bank, in collaboration with local police, might agree to “stage” a mock holdup during regular business hours to test how well the bank employees follow standard procedures and policies and how quickly police can arrive.
Does this actually happen?
What happens if one of those customers or bystanders decides to take drastic action and “fight” back, which in their mind might be personally reasonable? E.g. if a customer has a gun and decides to open fire on the apparently well-armed “robbers” or “terrorists” and kills one, only to later find out it was all a drill and the actors were using blanks? I’m more interested in practical effects as well as civil liability, I’m less interested in whether or not the innocent person is going to face criminal charges.
Can’t speak to other regions, but here on Long Island, when we have an emergency services drill, they illicit volunteers from various local civic groups including CERT, to play the ‘victims’/‘bystanders’. I know they’ve done a few at the local airport, and I can’t imagine there weren’t signs up saying ‘drill in progress’ or some such. Local media were also present.