EPD to Participate in Active Shooter Drill on November 6

Elmira, NY (10/30/2019) — Elmira City Police Department will partner with Elmira College for the November 6 active shooter drill on campus. Officers will be on campus that morning to assist with the drill and evaluation of the drill.

"The primary function of the Elmira Police Department will be to monitor and evaluate the campus response to the drill," said Dr. Kevin Murphy, associate dean of students. "They, along with members of Elmira College's Emergency Response Management Team, will be present to collect data through direct observation and to also offer support and guidance if merited. Data collected will enable both EPD and the College to further refine and enhance are protocols and policies, and by extension maximize campus wide safety."

Students and staff who may encounter the police officers on the morning of the drill are encouraged to follow directions from the officers, as they would during an actual emergency situation.

On the day of the drill, students are to attend class as they normally would. Once the drill begins, specific instructions will be sent via e2Campus text alerts, email, and network messages. During the drill, alerts will indicate all messages being sent are "drill alerts" to emphasize the events taking place are not real. At the conclusion of the drill, an "all clear" message will be issued through e2Campus.

Members of the Elmira College community that have not yet signed up for e2Campus Alerts, should do so before the drill. A test alert was sent at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30 - if you did not receive this text message, you are not signed up for alerts. To check your registration status or to sign up, click here. Use your Elmira College credentials to login, e.g. sbenjamin for username, then your EC password. It is a one-year subscription.

Students, faculty, and staff should continue to familiarize themselves with the emergency preparedness information posted on the Campus Safety web page.

While practicing drills for various emergencies has become commonplace for many, it can cause apprehension and uncertainty for many. Following the drill, students are encouraged to discuss with faculty, staff, and fellow students "what if" this were a real incident.

Any students, or employees, who are concerned about the drill and its impact on their wellbeing, are encouraged to reach out to Murphy at kmurphy@elmira.edu or Katie Basu, director of counseling, at cbasu@elmira.edu.

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