The MTSU Police Department decided to postpone an Active Shooter Training Drill that was set for Saturday, March 31 in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building off Champion Way, MTPD announced in a press release.

The goal of this drill was to allow Tucker Theatre faculty and personnel as well as the MTSU Police Department to test their emergency response to an active shooter threat.

When asked about why this kind of training is important, MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster stated, “We are committed to doing our part to bring about and maintain safety on our campus. Part of that commitment is helping to make the community more resilient by helping to train ourselves and others to be prepared for an active shooter event.”

This bright blue “Simunition” training handgun will be used to fire blanks during the March 31 Active Shooter Training Drill conducted by MTSU Police and Tucker Theatre personnel inside the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. (Submitted photo)

An active shooter event on campus is very chaotic by nature, due to the mass amounts of people evacuating a building combined with a police presence attempting to enter, locate, and eliminate a threat. This training will help build the skills needed by the MTSU Police Department to quickly end an active shooter event as well as give the students and faculty involved a chance to practice their roles – such as identifying and describing the suspect shooter and leaving the scene as quickly and safely as possible.

The campus community can find information about general MTSU Active Shooter protocols and guidelines (also available for download) at http://www.mtsu.edu/alert4u/active-shooter.php

In the event of actual active shooter event, MTSU would activate its Critical Notification System to distribute emergency alerts through texts, phone calls, social media, digital signage and mtsu.edu. You can learn more about MTSU’s Critical Notification System at www.mtsu.edu/alert4u and at its FAQ page, www.mtsu.edu/alert4u/faqs.php.

The MTSU Police Department provides full-time law enforcement services for the entire Middle Tennessee State University campus and campus community. For more information, follow the MTSU Police Department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @MTSUPolice or visit www.mtsu.edu/police.

— Patrick Fajardo, MTSU Police PIO (patrick.fajardo@mtsu.edu)