Campus Drill Successful, Mostly

University police have declared the emergency drill on campus Thursday a success, despite a problem with the public announcement system.

The UCAPD conducted the drill to test the department's ability to respond to a person inside a campus building shooting students and faculty. It was the first time the university has tested new security systems installed after the October 2008 shooting on campus that left two students dead.

The drill used Minton Hall and about 60 volunteers who simulated victims. It included real gunfire from guns shooting blanks. Dozens of people gathered outside the building to watch.

The first shots were heard from the building about 1:35 p.m. Within in three minutes, the first officers arrived at the building. A minute later, police were on the campus-wide public address system announcing, "This is a test. This is only a test." Students were receiving text messages by 1:41 p.m. Police secured the building by 1:58 p.m. The exercise ended shortly after 3 p.m.

Everything went as planned with the exception of the public address system. Most people on campus couldn't understand what was being said. Lt. Rhonda Swindle, who organized the drill, said police would correct the problem.

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