2008 Woodie Awards
Are we safe?
CP looks at Plattsburgh State procedures
Michelle Besaw
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
Originally published: 4/19/07 at 4:12 PM EST
Last update: 4/19/07 at 4:40 PM EST
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In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 dead and thousands more scarred, many have questioned - including V-Tech students - the course of action taken by authorities during the shootings.
Across the nation universities and colleges have started looking at their own security measures for such a situation.
Plattsburgh State is one of those aiming at decreasing the possibility of a similar event happening on its own campus.
In the event of a shooting, University Police is trained in a special program referred to as "Rapid Response".
"It is a training program to respond to this type of situation," UP Assistant Chief Jerry Lottie said.
Rapid response is training for responding officers against active shooters - officers are trained how to respond immediately and work with other responding officers.
While the normal procedure requires officers to do the training once a year, they complete the training twice a year, Executive Assistant to the President Keith Tyo said. They must complete the procedure to qualify to fire their weapons.
On top of rapid response, UP offers emergency blue light phones and courtesy phones.
When any of the 10 blue light phones are activated, they immediately dial UP and a car is dispatched to the location. The blue lights are tested daily.
Courtesy phones, found at every dorm and most buildings on campus, have emergency buttons that also dispatch police to the location.
One concern raised in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shooting was the issue of classroom doors not being locked to intruders. Tyo said they have been looking at this issue for the past six months to try to prevent such situations.
"For us to lock down everything is very difficult," he said.
PSUC wants to look at the emergency response plan and make improvements without taking away the freedom of students on campus, Tyo said.
One of the most important security aspects are the officers that patrol the area looking for suspicious people or activities, he said.
Across the nation universities and colleges have started looking at their own security measures for such a situation.
Plattsburgh State is one of those aiming at decreasing the possibility of a similar event happening on its own campus.
In the event of a shooting, University Police is trained in a special program referred to as "Rapid Response".
"It is a training program to respond to this type of situation," UP Assistant Chief Jerry Lottie said.
Rapid response is training for responding officers against active shooters - officers are trained how to respond immediately and work with other responding officers.
While the normal procedure requires officers to do the training once a year, they complete the training twice a year, Executive Assistant to the President Keith Tyo said. They must complete the procedure to qualify to fire their weapons.
On top of rapid response, UP offers emergency blue light phones and courtesy phones.
When any of the 10 blue light phones are activated, they immediately dial UP and a car is dispatched to the location. The blue lights are tested daily.
Courtesy phones, found at every dorm and most buildings on campus, have emergency buttons that also dispatch police to the location.
One concern raised in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shooting was the issue of classroom doors not being locked to intruders. Tyo said they have been looking at this issue for the past six months to try to prevent such situations.
"For us to lock down everything is very difficult," he said.
PSUC wants to look at the emergency response plan and make improvements without taking away the freedom of students on campus, Tyo said.
One of the most important security aspects are the officers that patrol the area looking for suspicious people or activities, he said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sarah Torribio
posted 4/19/07 @ 7:07 PM EST
I am so saddened by the events at Virginia Tech and, like people across the United States, I'm wondering if anything could have been done to prevent this incident. (Continued…)
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