2008 Woodie Awards
LBCC student's account of simulated shooting drill
Student becomes honorary deputy for a day
Michael Brown
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Blogs
Having never attended or watched a simulated shooting exercise before, I didn't know what to expect from LBCC's training on Wednesday, March 26 in the LAC's F Building.
More than 50 LBCC students and I participated in the exercise as shooting victims, teachers and cops.
During our morning briefing, we learned that the day's simulation wouldn't be a laughing matter when Long Beach Police Department Detective Kenneth Turner warned us against "deviating" from the script due to members of the LBPD who would take part in the training going into "cop mode."
Turner's tacit sentiments were met with some curious looks from the audience. However, his words rung a bell with me.
I can't speak for other students, but I heeded Turner's warning due to my plan to cover the news and not become part of it.
Although plastic pellets would be the day's ammo, my objective has always been to stay away from the front of a gun's barrel, regardless of if it's a squirt gun or semi-automatic with live rounds.
After the briefing, I was given my role as an honorary deputy. My initial thoughts were anticipation for the unexpected.
Although it was a simulated shooting, once we took our positions, it was all business.
After being given the logistics, a brief description of the suspect and location of the chaos, you could sense the tension as we put on our protective headgear and took our pellet guns off safety.
Our mission was simple: seek and destroy.
Before we stormed the building, Turner said, "First aid and setting up a perimeter aren't on your radars. Eliminate the shooter first and secure the area. Kill him because for every shot you hear, that may be a kid getting killed. Speed is important."
My adrenaline began to rush unlike it has anytime recently when several officers and I jumped out of three squad cars amid gunshots, a fleeing shooter and screaming and frantic bystanders.
With Turner's words echoing in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but feel on edge as we dashed with guns in hand and everybody became a potential moving target. Everyone was wearing different clothing once we entered the hallway and the screams were deafening.
Discerning a shooter from students was a task as I pointed my weapon and slowly moved through the smoke caused by the suspect's gunfire as he let off blanks.
Finding the perpetrator was difficult because we had to block out the commotion from scrambling students and others who were playing dead and lying in the path.
After the smoke cleared and the gunshots and screams ceased, I left with a feeling of knowing that in a worst case scenario, we'd be in good hands with the men and women of the LBPD. Seeing things from their vantage point provided me with a whole new respect for their work.
More than 50 LBCC students and I participated in the exercise as shooting victims, teachers and cops.
During our morning briefing, we learned that the day's simulation wouldn't be a laughing matter when Long Beach Police Department Detective Kenneth Turner warned us against "deviating" from the script due to members of the LBPD who would take part in the training going into "cop mode."
Turner's tacit sentiments were met with some curious looks from the audience. However, his words rung a bell with me.
I can't speak for other students, but I heeded Turner's warning due to my plan to cover the news and not become part of it.
Although plastic pellets would be the day's ammo, my objective has always been to stay away from the front of a gun's barrel, regardless of if it's a squirt gun or semi-automatic with live rounds.
After the briefing, I was given my role as an honorary deputy. My initial thoughts were anticipation for the unexpected.
Although it was a simulated shooting, once we took our positions, it was all business.
After being given the logistics, a brief description of the suspect and location of the chaos, you could sense the tension as we put on our protective headgear and took our pellet guns off safety.
Our mission was simple: seek and destroy.
Before we stormed the building, Turner said, "First aid and setting up a perimeter aren't on your radars. Eliminate the shooter first and secure the area. Kill him because for every shot you hear, that may be a kid getting killed. Speed is important."
My adrenaline began to rush unlike it has anytime recently when several officers and I jumped out of three squad cars amid gunshots, a fleeing shooter and screaming and frantic bystanders.
With Turner's words echoing in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but feel on edge as we dashed with guns in hand and everybody became a potential moving target. Everyone was wearing different clothing once we entered the hallway and the screams were deafening.
Discerning a shooter from students was a task as I pointed my weapon and slowly moved through the smoke caused by the suspect's gunfire as he let off blanks.
Finding the perpetrator was difficult because we had to block out the commotion from scrambling students and others who were playing dead and lying in the path.
After the smoke cleared and the gunshots and screams ceased, I left with a feeling of knowing that in a worst case scenario, we'd be in good hands with the men and women of the LBPD. Seeing things from their vantage point provided me with a whole new respect for their work.
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