Mock shooting planned to help BGSU prepare

1/3/2009

BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University is preparing for an exercise to help law enforcement deal with an on-campus shooting if it were to occur.

About 60 faculty, staff, and students at the university have signed up to help with the exercise planned for 9 a.m. Monday.

The university sought volunteers to play the roles of victims, parents, faculty, and members of the media.

Campus police chief James Wiegand said they have been planning this for at least eight months and the reported shot fired on campus in November "gave us one more reason to be prepared to do something like this."

Campus police will lead the exercise along with personnel from the Bowling Green city police and fire departments, Wood County Sheriff's Office, Ohio Highway Patrol, local EMS workers, and staff from Wood County Hospital and the American Red Cross.

The scenario will be a report of shots fired with 20 to 25 "victims" who will be triaged and taken away by EMS.

The university plans to use paintball-like pellets in the scenario and all participants will wear goggles and other protective gear.

BGSU will use its AlertBG text message system during the practice, but the messages will be clearly marked as a test.