Law enforcement and other first responders in Bloomington-Normal are preparing for Election Day and whatever may happen after.

“It was obviously one of those issues that we’ve been concerned about since the last election,” he said Illinois State University Police Chief Aaron Woodruff, noting that while The January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol it wasn’t local, but it served as a reminder that elections can turn violent.

Woodruff said his department has participated in a series of mass training exercises over the past six months with other Bloomington-Normal responders, election officers and Homeland Security. He said he plans almost anything.

“(From) the most likely scenario of a power outage, which at our polling place (at the Bone Student Center) could complicate things, to the worst-case scenario care is bomb threats and things like that,” he Woodruff said.

Then there’s what could happen after the election. There could be cause for celebration or anger—probably both.

Normal Police City Chief Steve Petrilli said he doesn’t anticipate unrest, but said his department is prepared if it happens.

“Our community remains safe and if there is a need to intervene, our people have received the proper training to do so,” Petrilli said.

Bloomington Police Department Spokesman Bryce Janssen said the department is not aware of any threats of violence, but plans to monitor any large gatherings that may develop.

“Anytime we have a gathering of people of this magnitude, we encourage officers to spend a little extra time in that area, whether it’s filling out paperwork at a nearby location or just driving more often and and make the presence known,” Janssen said. adding that BPD is prepared to call for additional help or rely on mutual aid from other agencies if necessary.

Woodruff said the gatherings were small and peaceful after the 2020 presidential election, which lasted four days before Joe Biden was declared the winner. This also came as many people largely avoided large gatherings due to the COVID pandemic.

He noted that opposing political factions engaged each other shortly after Donald Trump was declared the winner in 2016, and while tempers may have flared, the incident did not turn violent.

Woodruff said ISU has, too safety demonstration teamwith university administrators trained in First Amendment rights and de-escalation to intervene.

“We have protests on campus pretty regularly,” Woodruff said.