Tabletop exercises provide valuable opportunities for teams and organizations to strengthen communication, critical thinking, and team cohesion. This presentation describes a specialized tabletop exercise conducted by the Forensic Biology Unit (FBU) at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, focusing on the integration of Rapid DNA technology during a simulated mass casualty incident.
The exercise was developed to evaluate existing procedures, identify gaps in the workflow, and assess the operational readiness of the Rapid DNA deployment program under realistic conditions. To enhance realism and engagement, randomized elements were introduced using polyhedral dice (e.g., d20, d6, d4), mimicking the unpredictable nature of actual mass disaster scenes. Dice rolls determined variables such as resource availability (e.g. power or no power), unforeseen complications (e.g. childcare concerns), and real-time shifts in incident severity. These random challenges pushed participants to adapt quickly, make critical decisions under pressure, and coordinate efforts across roles. Effective communication became crucial to align participants and ensure a cohesive response.
While this presentation focuses on a mass disaster response exercise, the methodology can be adapted to suit a wide variety of scenarios and disciplines. Observations from this exercise suggest that incorporating randomization significantly enhanced problem-solving, communication, and team unity. Additionally, it ensures each exercise is unique, avoiding predictability and promoting continuous improvement. This approach can equip teams to manage high-pressure scenarios with greater confidence and agility, offering a novel strategy to improve team preparedness across various professional contexts
Tabletop exercises provide valuable opportunities for teams and organizations to strengthen communication, critical thinking, and team cohesion. This presentation describes a specialized tabletop exercise conducted by the Forensic Biology Unit (FBU) at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, focusing on the integration of Rapid DNA technology during a simulated mass casualty incident.
The exercise was developed to evaluate existing procedures, identify gaps in the workflow, and assess the operational readiness of the Rapid DNA deployment program under realistic conditions. To enhance realism and engagement, randomized elements were introduced using polyhedral dice (e.g., d20, d6, d4), mimicking the unpredictable nature of actual mass disaster scenes. Dice rolls determined variables such as resource availability (e.g. power or no power), unforeseen complications (e.g. childcare concerns), and real-time shifts in incident severity. These random challenges pushed participants to adapt quickly, make critical decisions under pressure, and coordinate efforts across roles. Effective communication became crucial to align participants and ensure a cohesive response.
While this presentation focuses on a mass disaster response exercise, the methodology can be adapted to suit a wide variety of scenarios and disciplines. Observations from this exercise suggest that incorporating randomization significantly enhanced problem-solving, communication, and team unity. Additionally, it ensures each exercise is unique, avoiding predictability and promoting continuous improvement. This approach can equip teams to manage high-pressure scenarios with greater confidence and agility, offering a novel strategy to improve team preparedness across various professional contexts
Workshop currently at capacity. A waitlist is available to join on our registration page.
Forensic Scientist, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Kelly Behnke is a Forensic Scientist at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in West Palm Beach, Florida in the Forensic Biology Unit. She has been with PBSO for approximately 8 years, conducting both biological screening and DNA analysis as well as training new analysts.
