The Indians on Tuesday held a “full-scale emergency exercise" at Progressive Field, in which "a bombing and a hostage situation were staged,” according to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. The team “partnered with the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and various emergency response agencies” to conduct the event. Cleveland Deputy Police Chief Ed Tomba said, "We envisioned this as a jewel event in baseball, an All-Star Game with 42,000 people in the ballpark, 1,000 media from around the country and the world, people in the restaurants, shops and bars. It would have been a very difficult task." Castrovince noted Tuesday's event was “attended by security staff" for MLB, as well as reps from "several other teams, including the White Sox, Astros, Phillies, Padres, Blue Jays, Pirates, Rays and Orioles.” The exercise “wasn't scheduled in response to the Boston Marathon bombings; it had actually been in the works for months.” Tomba said, "We set a high standard for Major League Baseball. I know this will be duplicated as time goes by" (MLB.com, 4/23).
