thedrifter
06-19-07, 07:26 AM
Naval Academy drill simulates gunman on campus
By Brian Witte - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 19, 2007 4:29:15 EDT
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Naval Academy held a security drill Monday designed to gauge the military school’s readiness in case of a terrorist attack or an incident such as the Virginia Tech shootings.
The academy described the drill in a statement as “a training exercise in response to a simulated gunman on the Naval Academy complex.”
“The exercise has been developed to enhance the training and readiness of Naval Academy’s security, fire and medical personnel and is part of an ongoing program of regularly scheduled and random exercises, and not in response to any specific threat,” the academy said.
Deborah Goode, an academy spokeswoman, declined to comment in detail about the drill, because the academy doesn’t discuss specifics about its security posture. A statement by the academy warned of possible traffic problems in areas around the school.
Academy officials briefed members of the school’s Board of Visitors, which includes members of Congress, at a meeting earlier this month on efforts to increase security on the campus. The security upgrades include a public address system and the capability to send a mass e-mail to all account users at the service academy to warn of an emergency.
The academy has been working on a camera monitoring system, which will include 35 remote controlled cameras for key campus locations and waterside approaches. Officials estimated it would be finished this summer.
The service academy also is working on an emergency operations center to improve coordination and disaster response. A system of fences, gates and barriers to protect midshipmen also is in the works.
The academy has been focusing on beefing up security at Bancroft Hall, the huge dorm that houses the entire student body, which is made up of more than 4,000 midshipmen. Some midshipmen are being specially trained in anti-terrorism protection.
The academy, which is located next to the Severn River, also is focusing on its waterborne security, incorporating flood protection as part of that.
Ellie
By Brian Witte - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 19, 2007 4:29:15 EDT
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Naval Academy held a security drill Monday designed to gauge the military school’s readiness in case of a terrorist attack or an incident such as the Virginia Tech shootings.
The academy described the drill in a statement as “a training exercise in response to a simulated gunman on the Naval Academy complex.”
“The exercise has been developed to enhance the training and readiness of Naval Academy’s security, fire and medical personnel and is part of an ongoing program of regularly scheduled and random exercises, and not in response to any specific threat,” the academy said.
Deborah Goode, an academy spokeswoman, declined to comment in detail about the drill, because the academy doesn’t discuss specifics about its security posture. A statement by the academy warned of possible traffic problems in areas around the school.
Academy officials briefed members of the school’s Board of Visitors, which includes members of Congress, at a meeting earlier this month on efforts to increase security on the campus. The security upgrades include a public address system and the capability to send a mass e-mail to all account users at the service academy to warn of an emergency.
The academy has been working on a camera monitoring system, which will include 35 remote controlled cameras for key campus locations and waterside approaches. Officials estimated it would be finished this summer.
The service academy also is working on an emergency operations center to improve coordination and disaster response. A system of fences, gates and barriers to protect midshipmen also is in the works.
The academy has been focusing on beefing up security at Bancroft Hall, the huge dorm that houses the entire student body, which is made up of more than 4,000 midshipmen. Some midshipmen are being specially trained in anti-terrorism protection.
The academy, which is located next to the Severn River, also is focusing on its waterborne security, incorporating flood protection as part of that.
Ellie