Campbellsville University conducts active shooter drill

Related Media

JCM_2679_Cropped.jpg

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY (05/02/2018) (readMedia)-- CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – "Help us! Someone please, help us!" Jesse Grubbs, a senior at Campbellsville University from Azle, Texas yelled while running from the scene with a group of students who had been "injured" during the mock "shooting."

Grubbs was one of several actors in the active shooter drill April 27 in and around The Gheens Recital Hall on campus.

Campbellsville University students and staff were also at the Taylor Regional Hospital, where the "injured" students were transported.

A "shooter," played by a member of the Office of Student Services, entered The Gheens Recital Hall at 10 a.m. carrying a mock pistol.

He then pretended to shoot and injure a number of students.

Police were on the scene in minutes, entering the building armed with mock rifles. The mock shooter was then captured.

Ambulances and fire trucks followed, also arriving on the scene with sirens blaring.

Campbellsville University conducted the active shooting drill as to test how the Campbellsville City Police and Kentucky State Police, the sheriff's department, Taylor County's coroner office, the city fire department, Emergency Medical Services, Taylor Regional Hospital and campus security would respond to a similar scenario.

Grubbs was among 30 students who acted during the drill. Among those students, five had been "killed," five ran from the scene before being "injured," and a number of students were also "injured."

Grubbs was among 30 students who acted during the drill. Among those students, five had been killed, five ran from the scene before being injured, and a number of students were also injured.

Josh Dudgeon, a senior at Campbellsville University from Eastview, Ky., Campbellsville University and an actor in the active shooter drill, said, Dudgeon was among the students who had been "killed."

"Seeing everyone panic in the auditorium was different," Dudgeon said.

"Once you see everyone else is in danger you begin to believe it is real and you wonder whether or not we are actually prepared for something like this," Dudgeon said.

Rebecca Carson, a senior at Campbellsville University from Cypress, Texas, also an actor in the active shooting drill had similar feelings.

"Originally, I thought I was going to have to try to act really hard. But it felt real, once it started," Carson said.

Carson said the auditorium got completely quiet just moments before the "shooting," which were the most realistic part for her.

A number of students commented on the behavior of the officers as they entered to eliminate the shooter.

"They were cold as ice," Dudgeon said.

According to Derrick Meuth, a freshman from Science Hill, Ky., said, "You could see it in their body language. They took it completely seriously."

"I felt the officers represented themselves well, entering the building, focused what their job was-to neutralize the threat," Pat Thompson, chief of police for the Campbellsville Police Department, said.

Kyle Davis, director of safety and security at Campbellsville University, also believed the drill went well.

"The exercise went smoothly. We learned a lot. There was great cooperation between the agencies and Campbellsville University," Davis said.

"It was a learning experience from which we can all benefit," Davis said.

Video footage and still photos were taken during the drill, which Campbellsville University's security office and the local police department plan to study to further improve their response to such a threat.

Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 10,000 students offering over 90 programs of study including 20 master's degrees, six postgraduate areas and seven pre-professional programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset and Hodgenville with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro, Summersville and Liberty, all in Kentucky, and one in Costa Mesa and the Silicon Valley in California and a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.

-30-

CUTLINE:

Jennifer Richerson, left, secretary for the School of Nursing, comforts Taylor Elardo, a CU nursing student, as they play shot victims during the active shooter mock scenario held on Campbellsville University's campus on April 27. (CU Photo by Andrea Burnside)