Texas Shooting Prompts Local University to take Precaution
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: January 23, 2013
Every school is prepared.
"We try to train for the day that we hope never arrives," said ACU chief of police Jimmy Ellison.
Through multiple drills, looking at protocol and alert systems, all three universities say they are prepared.
"We do look at them. We look at our policy every time we have something go over like this and see if we need to change anything. We've made some minor tweaks in it, but nothing major," said Mark Odom, director of security at McMurry.
ACU practices year round with APD. But ACUPD says it's all about working as a team.
"We work together. If he needs help, we help them. If we need help they help us. And if something were to happen, he would be our help as we go into a building," said Lt. Randy Motz.
"When you have a mass situation like that, everybody is coming together with one response. So it's critical that everybody has the same training and has had the drill and has interacted with all these agencies," said chief Ellison.
All three universities have a mobile alert system. Notifying students by text messages, phone calls or by email whenever there's an emergency. But here at Hardin-Simmons, they've properly identified all of their buildings to eliminate any confusion during an emergency.
"So that, when you're trying to communicate where a potential shooter could be located that the police officers, first and foremost, they know where to go. And so, if things aren't clearly marked, then you could have some confusion," said Dr. Dave Rozboom, vice president of student development at HSU.
They even have a system that alerts dispatchers where the call is coming from simply through caller id.
"You know, a lot of people know the number 9-1-1," Dr. Rozboom explained. "And if they were to call that, they could be directed pretty quickly to where the emergency is taking place."
"We try to train for the day that we hope never arrives," said ACU chief of police Jimmy Ellison.
Through multiple drills, looking at protocol and alert systems, all three universities say they are prepared.
"We do look at them. We look at our policy every time we have something go over like this and see if we need to change anything. We've made some minor tweaks in it, but nothing major," said Mark Odom, director of security at McMurry.
ACU practices year round with APD. But ACUPD says it's all about working as a team.
"We work together. If he needs help, we help them. If we need help they help us. And if something were to happen, he would be our help as we go into a building," said Lt. Randy Motz.
"When you have a mass situation like that, everybody is coming together with one response. So it's critical that everybody has the same training and has had the drill and has interacted with all these agencies," said chief Ellison.
All three universities have a mobile alert system. Notifying students by text messages, phone calls or by email whenever there's an emergency. But here at Hardin-Simmons, they've properly identified all of their buildings to eliminate any confusion during an emergency.
"So that, when you're trying to communicate where a potential shooter could be located that the police officers, first and foremost, they know where to go. And so, if things aren't clearly marked, then you could have some confusion," said Dr. Dave Rozboom, vice president of student development at HSU.
They even have a system that alerts dispatchers where the call is coming from simply through caller id.
"You know, a lot of people know the number 9-1-1," Dr. Rozboom explained. "And if they were to call that, they could be directed pretty quickly to where the emergency is taking place."
