Campus police beef up their skills

Los Rios Police officers patrol the campus of American River College after being alerted to a shooting. They disperse into teams armed with air soft weapons. The teams had practiced Jan. 8, at nearby Folsom Lake College to prepare, so they are ready for this.

It wasn't an actual crime incident. ARC was hosting its first training exercise involving an "active shooter" and simulated gunfire on Jan. 11, conducted by the Los Rios Police Department.

After weeks of planning and inviting different agencies, the exercise was ready to begin, says Los Rios Police Department Captain Chris Day.

"You don't use it, you lose it … it allows us to correct any mistakes," said Day.

This exercise provides the officers with a chance to improve their skills in maintaining a safe campus here at ARC. The administration and faculty also played a part as the Emergency Operation Center, which exists to keep constant information flowing throughout the campus.

The E.O.C. is a group of campus officials, directed by Vice President of Administration Robert Allegre and assisted by President David Viar, who are assigned to keep information and resources moving between the different agencies if a campus emergency occurs. They will make sure any needs of the college are met during a crisis, i.e., batteries, fencing, communicating with parents, if necessary.

"We begin planning for the following situation while [we] anticipate and plan," said Viar.

According to Los Rios Police Officer Joe Quirarte, this exercise happening 11 days before most students started the spring semester, there was no one on campus to participate as actors. It was the last minute and he needed actors to portray college students, so he drove around and ended up at MTI College on Madison Avenue where he recruited 20 to 25 actors to play the roles.

Due to their aid in this exercise, Retired Police Officer and coordinator of this exercise, John King, made a donation to the Christina Smith Memorial Fund, which was created for active MTI students in emergency situations that may cause a graduation.

"Almost couldn't have done it without them … they were very helpful," said Quirarte.

In light of recent and old school emergencies, the LRPD is finding ways to enhance our schools protection and make us feel safer as we spend three to eight hours a day here. Although there are no current plans to repeat the exercise, police sources say the training has long-term value.