TAHLEQUAH —
Emergency responders on Thursday rallied together to face a series of potentially dangerous situations on the Indian Capital Technology Center.
Though the scenarios were all staged as a large-scale training exercise, responders tried to treat each event as they would have during a real-life response.
It all began to unfold just before 9 a.m., when several “shooters” stormed onto the ICTC campus. Students were placed in lockdown, and after a 911 call, school resource officers arrived on scene, weapons drawn, looking for the suspects.
Officers quickly found the bodies of injured students around campus, and made contact with others who were hiding out behind trash bins and air-conditioning units.
Soon, other Tahlequah police arrived on scene and the teams began to make entry into ICTC buildings after shots were fired.
“We wanted to determine where the weak spots are, and involve as many different agencies as we could,” said Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Gary Dotson.
Local, state and federal agencies responded during Thursday’s training.
“We had two active shooters on the scene, and after the police officers arrived, we had the Special Weapons and Tactics guys from the Tahlequah Police Department and Cherokee Nation Marshal Service come in,” said Dotson.
During the sweep of one building, where one “shooter” was identified and shot by a SWAT team member, officers identified a potential explosive device. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad was contacted for assistance and the building was evacuated. Once on scene, the OHP deployed its bomb robot into the ICTC Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition building. The robot was able to locate what officers believed to be a pipe bomb. The device was picked up by the robot and eventually taken to a field, where the device was detonated away from buildings, cars and people.
Elsewhere, Tahlequah City Hospital and Cherokee Nation’s ambulances rolled onto the scene along with local firefighters. Victims of the shooting and other incidents were triaged. For those who’d suffered more serious injuries, EagleMed’s Tahlequah helicopter flew in.
Firefighters were also sent into the automotive building on campus for a potentially hazardous material.
“This was a very good experience,” said Dotson. “We found several weak spots we need to work on. The only way we’re going to find out what our weak spots are is to train.”
Dotson said communication among local, state and federal agents seemed to be one of the biggest problems identified during the training.
As the scenes unfolded around campus, school administrators from around the region gathered inside ICTC, where they were able to discuss with various officials the processes involved in emergency response to schools. Live video feeds were shown on a large screen, including a camera attached to one of the shooters.
Dotson said this may be one of the first times school administrators have experienced such an event.
“We were excited, to tell the truth,” said Dotson. “We’re all locals. We talk together, eat together, and train together. This was a good experience and I think the school administrators were able to learn a lot about how to respond in these types of scenarios.”
School Resource Office Bryan Swim had a major role in preparing the day’s events.
“We wanted to gear it for the entire community and give our first-line officers some first-hand training,” said Swim.
“We got some good training out of this.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Tahlequah school resource officers Brian Stanglin, left; Marcus Sams, center; and Randy Jordan search for a reported shooter on the campus of Indian Capital Technology Center. Thursday’s drill combined local efforts with those of state and federal agencies. Josh Newton
-
Tahlequah's EagleMed lands near a Tahlequah City Hospital ambulance at the scene of a mock disaster. Josh Newton
-
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol's bomb squad robot places an explosive device in a trench. Josh Newton
-
Firefighters go through decontamination following discovering of hazardous material. The events were part of a mock disaster at ICTC. Josh Newton
-
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol's bomb squad robot retrieves a potentially explosive device during a training session at ICTC. Josh Newton
-
Firefighters go through decontamination following discovering of hazardous material. The events were part of a mock disaster at ICTC. Josh Newton
-
Cherokee Nation Marshal Service's SWAT team members check a building in search of "shooters." Josh Newton
-
SWAT and medical personnel transport victims to EagleMed at the ICTC campus. Josh Newton
-
Cherokee Nation Marshal Service's SWAT team members check a building in search of "shooters." Josh Newton
-
"Victims" of on-campus shooters were identified Thursday during a training exercise at the ICTC campus. Josh Newton
-
Students and faculty at ICTC were checked by SWAT team members of the Tahlequah Police Department Thursday morning during a mock disaster and shooter. Josh Newton
-
"Victims" of on-campus shooters were identified Thursday during a training exercise at the ICTC campus. Josh Newton
-
Tahlequah school resource officer Brian Stanglin secures a "shooter" during a training exercise at ICTC. Josh Newton
-
SWAT team members arrive at ICTC to search for shooters during a training event. Josh Newton
-
Students and faculty at ICTC were checked by SWAT team members of the Tahlequah Police Department Thursday morning during a mock disaster and shooter. Josh Newton
-
School resource officer Marcus Sams takes cover as he and other officers approach a building at ICTC. Josh Newton
Discussion
Defensive measures
- Local News
-
-
What’s on the bun?
Perhaps no other food on the American summer holiday menu epitomizes patriotism more than a good old-fashioned hamburger.
-
Best gifts can be made from scratch
When hand-crafting gifts to honor loved ones or friends, a fellowship can be born.
-
Injury crash provokes felony charge
Prosecutors have charged a Tahlequah man for his alleged role in causing a crash that put another man on life support.
The charges stem from a May 18 crash at the intersection of the State Highway 51 West bypass and Vinita. -
Testimony in Butcher trial centers on evidence
Testimony given throughout the day Thursday in the first-degree murder case against Bronson William Butcher centered mostly on the state’s investigation of the case.
-
Oklahoma City man charged with larceny here
Prosecutors in Cherokee County have charged an Oklahoma City man with grand larceny, second-degree burglary, and larceny of an automobile.
-
Local men’s shelter at risk of closing
Tom Lewis walked through the semi-completed expansion at Project O Si Yo Thursday, pointing out what services could be provided to area homeless men, if only the funding were available.
-
TPS officials eye earlier start times
A handful of Tahlequah Public Schools parents voiced concern Wednesday evening about a potential change in school start-and-stop times for the upcoming year.
-
Food for thought
With representatives from the Oklahoma Farm & Food Alliance, Sustainable Green Country and Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Division in attendance, the Tahlequah Food Policy Council on Tuesday shared their ideas on establishing sustainable local food sources for retail ventures.
-
Defense attorney: Witness changed his story
The defense counsel for Bronson Butcher on Wednesday targeted eyewitness accounts of a man who claims he saw the accused shoot an Oktaha man at a Tahlequah home in March 2011.
-
TMS Cancer Carnival raises funds
The Tahlequah Middle School Student Council held its 6th Annual Student Council Cancer Carnival Wednesday to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
