UPDATE: Rescuers storm school in mock emergency drill

By TOM MOOR, Tribune Staff Writer

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Tribune Photo/GREG SWIERCZ A team of police and rescue personnel move out from a secured stairwell during a mock disaster drill Tuesday at Mishawaka High School. The winter break allowed the police trainers to plan a training exercise in the school.

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 23, 2008 at 12:03 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 27, 2008 at 2:32 PM EST

MISHAWAKA — Gunfire rang out at Mishawaka High School this morning, and explosive devices went off in the hallways.

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Sounds pretty scary. Fortunately, it was just a training exercise, and nobody was injured.

But, authorities say, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and having this kind of exercise is good practice in case the real thing ever occurs.

Mishawaka fire and police, along with St. Joseph County Police and Mishawaka Utilities, participated in the mock emergency drill through the hallways and classrooms of the high school. Students are on winter break.

"If a situation like this ever occurred, we’d have to be perfect," said Capt. Bryon Woodward, of the Mishawaka Fire Department. "This helps us identify our flaws.

"Unfortunately, it’s a matter of when for some schools. So we need to be prepared."

The setup involved two armed men inside the building, opening fire. The scenario included several people with gunshot wounds, and police and fire officials going into the school to rescue them and apprehend the gunmen.

Rescuers came across several people in the hallways who were either wounded or killed by the gunfire and took them outside. A SWAT team followed the gunmen to the second floor, where they eventually were cornered in a classroom and apprehended.

The participating officers did not know in advance what they would find in the hallways, whether it was the fake gunfire or the location of the victims and shooters.

Everything went according to normal police procedure: A call came into police dispatch that shots were fired at the high school; all the respective authorities responded; and a command center was set up nearby, where the police and fire chiefs were stationed.

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