Think you're ready for a riot? Prepared for a brawl in the infirmary? Know how to handle a hostage situation?

If not, you may want to catch up with any of the 30 teams that headed to the West Virginia state penitentiary this past weekend. They're getting ready for four days of the most chaotic situations members of corrections and law enforcement might face in the line of duty.

As part of this year's Mock Riot, sponsored by the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center, participants will also see and use the latest weapons, gear and technologies available to quell the hazardous conditions they risk facing everyday. 

About 1,200 registered attendees will partake in 56 scenarios across 11 acres surrounding the big house, and review products from 91 exhibitors in its 44,000 square-foot industry building.

“When we started the mock riot ten years ago after the prison closed, it was a small event with 10 or 12 technologist and about 40 people. This year's event will be our biggest yet, but our primary focus remains getting technology to industry professionals,” says OLETC executive director, Steve Morrison.

During the event, exhibitors will demonstrate their products. This year they include a ball-shaped camera that offers a 360 degree view when thrown into the middle of a hostile situation; biometrics tools; a tactical ladder that folds to the size of a suitcase but expands to the height of two stories and supports almost 600 pounds; a weapon that can see and fire around corners; and the OLETC's own Bombot.

“The Bombot is a low cost robot used for disposing of improvised explosive devices. For law enforcement purposes, it can remove a bomb, or it can use a dump bucket to carry a cell phone to a hostage taker,” explains OLETC director of operations, Karen Whipkey.

Vendors, who represent countries from around the world, including Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom, also will train officers on how to use their equipment in the riot scenarios.

“We'll demo items like flash bang hand grenades. They make a loud noise and produce intense light which can distract barricaders or those holding hostages.  It has quite a percussion effect too, so it is a very effective entry tool,” Morrison explains.

Domestic and international teams – 30 are from the U.S. alone while others come from as far as Hong Kong and France - develop scenarios where they feel they need the most training. In order to replicate realistic situations, they will not know the scenario's full details until the actual event.

Whipkey and Morrison then identify the technologies that participants might need or would be interested in using during each situation, which include a yard disturbance, dining hall ruckus, cell extraction and infirmary clearing exercise.

Volunteers from seven colleges and universities, including the Wheeling Jesuit University women's lacrosse team, play the bad guys.

“Safety is paramount,” adds Morrison. “We protect volunteers with head gear, goggles and RedMans, which are padded suits so you can beat the devil out of them without hurting them.”

The event also includes a major secret scenario where everyone participates, including Morrison and Whipkey.
 
“I don't even know when that event happens. It's unrehearsed and not choreographed, but I know I'll be a hostage,” Morrison adds hesitantly. 

“I'll serve as the safety officer, like through most of the events,” adds Whipkey. “My team will monitor each event to make sure we can stop the scenario if necessary. We conduct safety checks too, so we know what technologies are being used, and we ensure that no live ammunition is brought into the facility.”

Whipkey wouldn't divulge when the secret scenario will occur, but she says it will replicate a severe hostage situation that will involve dogs, helicopters with participants repelling from them, and all-around, major chaos.

Morrison and Whipkey say the four-day Mock Riot is always an eye-opening experience for everyone involved, but a major highlight is NIJ's ability to completely fund the event. As a result, participants are only required to pay for travel.

While this might come as a relief to those on a budget, it might not be the first thing on attendees' mind when they have to contend with barking dogs, billowing smoke, and charging, crazed lacrosse players in giant RedMan suits.