NEWS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3061 FAX 278-5959
COMMISSIONERS:
THOMAS JAY ELLIS, ESQ. Chairman, JAMES R. MATTHEWS , RUTH S. DAMSKER
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY 02/02/06 PR#06-04
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ACCEPTS $15,000 PECO DONATION FOR RAPID RESPONSE TRAINING CENTER
NORRISTOWN — The Montgomery County Commissioners were pleased to accept a $15,000 donation Thursday from PECO to help defray the costs of the Montgomery County Rapid Response Training Facility.
The facility will provide a central location where the 1,600 officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the County will receive training and practice in live ammunition shooting exercises, realistic, scenario based tactical drills and large area search and contain exercises.
"PECO is proud to be a participant in this worthwhile project," said Denis O’Brien, PECO president.
"During emergencies, including natural disasters and fires, our employees work side-by-side with local police and emergency personnel. Many of the police and emergency personnel in Montgomery County also serve as first responders to Limerick Generating Station, owned by our sister company Exelon Nuclear. As their partners, it is not only right, but natural, for us to help fund this new state-of-the-art training center."
Montgomery County Commissioner Chairman Thomas Jay Ellis expressed his gratitude for the contribution.
"We welcome any and all assistance in protecting our residents from a wide array of potential threats," he said.
The facility will be located on the same property where fire and EMS training occur, allowing for joint training of police, fire, paramedics and hazardous materials technicians. Simulated terrorism events, chemical contamination, medical rescue, hostage incidents, clandestine drug labs and other scenarios requiring a unified command structure will be practiced under realistic conditions.
The proposed Rapid Response training facility has been in the planning stages for several years and is being constructed in phases as funding becomes available. The County has received $2.5 million in state grants for the project.
