Palatka, FL – Residents near Palatka Junior-Senior High School may notice a heavy law enforcement presence this afternoon as the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office conducts a SWAT training exercise at the school. The training is scheduled to begin around 4 p.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025.
According to the sheriff’s office, the drill is part of a planned coordination exercise involving deputies and emergency personnel. Officials emphasized there is no active threat and that the training is pre-scheduled as part of ongoing preparedness efforts.
Because Monday is a student holiday, no students or staff will be on campus during the operation, and the school remains closed to the public.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach thanked the Putnam County School District for partnering with law enforcement to allow realistic training in a controlled setting. “Exercises like this help our specialized teams prepare to respond effectively in real-world scenarios,” the office stated.
Residents are encouraged not to be alarmed by the presence of law enforcement or emergency vehicles in the area during the exercise.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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