The U.S. Capitol Police coordinated one of the largest riot-control training events in recent memory on September 6, bringing together roughly 600 officers from nearly 20 federal, state, and local agencies at the Secret Services James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland. The exercise comes amid record-high threats against members of Congress and growing concern about politically motivated violence. The scenarios were intentionally intense and designed to replicate real-world challenges that law enforcement might face when protecting elected officials during mass unrest. In one drill, role players boxed in a vehicle simulating the transport of a lawmaker, forcing shield teams to move in, open the car doors, and rapidly extract the passenger under pressure. Other exercises included identifying and neutralizing a gun-wielding suspect in a chaotic crowd, while containment units managed protestors attempting to overwhelm the perimeter. The drills were supported by drones providing real-time aerial feeds, giving commanders situational awareness and reducing blind spots that hampered law enforcement responses during past incidents. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan emphasized the importance of interagency coordination and what he called muscle memory between teams that rarely work side by side until a crisis occurs. By rehearsing complex movements in advance, officers can respond more decisively and with fewer communication breakdowns when confronted with unpredictable threats. Andrew Ackley, assistant chief of the Secret Service Uniformed Division, noted that training needs to evolve with shifting threat profiles and that joint exercises are now essential given the scale and variety of risks surrounding high-profile government events. Since the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, the Department of Homeland Security, Capitol Police, and the Secret Service have steadily increased the size and frequency of collaborative training. Previously, agencies often ran their own isolated drills. Now, integrated events focus on unified command, interoperable communications, and coordinated deployments. The September 6 exercise highlighted how drones and advanced communications tools shorten the decision-making cycle from threat detection to tactical response, improving officers ability to protect lawmakers in volatile environments. Officials noted that politically charged demonstrations and lone-actor violence remain the most pressing security risks. By practicing multiple simultaneous challengeshostile crowds, armed suspects, and extraction operationslaw enforcement can prepare for cascading threats that could occur during real-world protests or targeted actions against elected officials. Importantly, the drill also incorporated lessons from inspector-general reports and congressional inquiries, applying those findings directly into practice rather than leaving them as theoretical critiques. For frontline officers, the training reinforced the need to make rapid, confident decisions in high-stress situations while working seamlessly with units from other jurisdictions. For command staff, it validated new protocols for managing information flow, coordinating across agencies, and deploying resources more effectively. The combined effect is an environment where decision loops are shortened, situational awareness is sharper, and officers are better equipped to keep lawmakers safe in unpredictable situations.