The Dolphin Mall was swarmed Wednesday with multiple police units, helicopters, K-9 teams, and hostage negotiators, and the air was filled with the sounds of helicopters, shots and flares -- but it was all just a drill.
Sweetwater Police, along with about a dozen agencies across South Florida, took part in an active shooter exercises at the Dolphin Mall early Wednesday in an effort to prepare the more than 400 officers on how to respond in the event of a real-life crisis situation.
The extremely realistic exercise is meant to prepare officers to be able to quickly put into practice their active shooter and tactical training in the event of such an event in a crowded place like the mall.
The officers met at 4 a.m. sharp and were not permitted to bring any real, loaded firearms in the exercise or within the perimeter of the mall.
About a dozen local agencies took part in Wednesday's exercise, as did tactical teams from the Federal and State level. That level of collaboration is crucial in the event of an actual crisis situation.
"I want the officers to know, and be able to work with whoever shows up." Sweetwater's Chief of Police, Jesus Menocal, says. "Nowadays, it's not like it use to be before that you would wait for the first four officers. We may not get four officer from the same agency."
The exercises included threat neutralization, hostage/victim negotiations, as well as officer rescue techniques.
Officers also responded to a scenario that mirrored a multiple hostage situation and a barricaded subject.
The training takes place every year, and for officers it can make the difference between life or death as it did for Officer Lino Diaz of North Miami Beach Police.
In February, Officer Diaz was shot and wounded by a suspect as he served a search warrant for a federal investigation.
Diaz was present at Wednesday's training, and he credited the intense training with helping to keep him alive that day. He stressed the importance of the exercises for his fellow officers.
"It's a reality check. We always think that nothing is going to happen to us," the veteran officer told NBC 6 South Florida. "The minute you put the uniform on and you come out here, from day one our lives are at risk."
For anyone out there willing to test these highly trained officers, Diaz had these words of caution.
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"I guarantee you that we are ready," he says.
