Walden Galleria holds lockdown safety drill

If you see several Cheektowaga Police officers, increased mall security and closed stores for a bit during your visit to the mall, don't be alarmed.

Walden Galleria and Cheektowaga Police are conducting a safety lockdown drill at 10:15 Tuesday morning. The mall will remain open during the drill as law enforcement personnel and mall security run through safety checks.

After a number of mall shootings across the country and concern for safety in crowded areas, local law enforcement is trying to train officers to be prepared for anything.

"We as law enforcement professionals need to be prepared, to train for this. Be proactive in fighting this," says Assistant Chief of the Cheektowaga Police Department Jim Speyer.

Stores will momentarily close through the morning as they practice putting their gates down, but shoppers will still be able to be in the mall during the drill.

Walden Galleria and Cheektowaga Police hope to conduct about four safety drills