Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / Chambers houses active-shooter simulation

Chambers houses active-shooter simulation

January 13, 2015 by Brittany Jackson

Chambers Hall was full of action during winter break with forced entries, low-scale explosions and hostage situations.

The ACU Police Department and the Abilene Police Department organized a full-scale training operation on Jan. 7-8 in the building slated for demolition, calling in specially trained groups like the SWAT team, crisis negotiation team and bomb squad.

“These kinds of attacks have become more frequent in institutions in our country, which demands a quick response and people who are well trained,” said ACUPD Lt. Randy Motz said. “You only get one chance at it, and you better make it right.”

The simulation is not uncommon for ACUPD or APD, with one or two similar simulations scheduled each year. However, in this simulation, the officers didn’t have to worry about harming the building.

ACUPD Police Chief Jimmy Ellison, said Scot Colley, executive director of construction and risk management, made the building accessible to the officers. Planning immediately pursued.

“It allowed us to, if we had to, do what we would in a real-life situation,” Motz said. “We were allowed to use tools without worrying what we might break.”

ACUPD roped off the Chambers building to set up for the two training days filled with four hours of exercises, the first day dealing with active shooter simulations, generic SWAT training and breaching doors with pry tools, forcible entry and explosive entry.

Almost every ACUPD officer was able to simulate the active shooter event, reviewing their training on building searches, active shooter formations, hostage situations and containment.

ACU Police and the Abilene Police Department practiced emergency responses inside Chambers Hall over Christmas break.

Police practice entry procedures.

Ellison said involving the APD helped simulate as realistic of a situation as possible, and encouraged communication between his officers and the APD officers continuing the long-standing practice of joint training.

The second day focused on APD’s bomb unit which used one of its high-tech robots to blast open doors with its high-pressure water canon, breaching and navigating stairs.

As for damages done, Ellison said about 24 doors were forcibly entered, and low-level explosives were detonated throughout the building.

Ellison said he appreciated the understanding of students and faculty as ACUPD sent out multiple texts and emails about the event.

“We’re trying our best to keep the campus safe, and we hope everyone understands that,” he said. “We have to be prepared for the worst, even though we hope it never comes.”

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Abilene Police, ACU Police, Chambers Hall

Other News:

  • Pruett Center’s aging photo contest deadline approaches

  • Young Alumni series shifts virtual in the spring

  • Edwards Resident Director assisted in Abilene school name changes

Avatar

About Brittany Jackson

You are here: Home / News / Chambers houses active-shooter simulation

Other News:

  • Pruett Center’s aging photo contest deadline approaches

  • Young Alumni series shifts virtual in the spring

  • Edwards Resident Director assisted in Abilene school name changes

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
11h

"There is much evil in America, and it does not belong in just one political party, people group or status." Read more from Editor-in-Chief Owen Simpson below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/01/analyzing-the-capitol-riots-through-both-lenses/

Reply on Twitter 1353788479398948865Retweet on Twitter 1353788479398948865Like on Twitter 1353788479398948865Twitter 1353788479398948865
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
22 Jan

ACU reported its lowest number of active COVID-19 cases during in-person instruction since Nov. 2 with 18 cases Friday. Quarantines also continue to decrease at 52.

Reply on Twitter 1352719807297298432Retweet on Twitter 13527198072972984321Like on Twitter 135271980729729843213Twitter 1352719807297298432

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

11 hours ago

The Optimist
"There is much evil in America, and it does not belong in just one political party, people group or status." Read more from Editor-in-Chief Owen Simpson below: ...

Analyzing the Capitol riots through both lenses - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

The historical insurrection that transpired on the Capitol grounds Jan. 6 displayed the polarizing viewpoints of American politics and the means by which those will go to invoke their beliefs. It was nothing short of a tragedy. However, violent riots have been displayed more often than both major pa...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

3 days ago

The Optimist
ACU reported its lowest number of active COVID-19 cases during in-person instruction since Nov. 2. Quarantines also continue to decrease at 52. ...

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Praise Day Fridays return to campus

Video by Allie Jones. https://youtu.be/4F0D1oNzGjM   ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast – Nov. 5, 2020
  • ACUTV, Optimist preparing for live election show
  • Earliest snowfall recorded in Abilene

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved