‘Active shooter’ at CCSD identified as ‘mechanical error’

All school facilities in Creston Community School District – including Southwestern Community College – went on lockdown after a “mechanical error” falsely alerted staff and students of an active shooter on site at the Early Childhood Center just after 9 a.m. Tuesday.

According to a Creston Police press release, Union County Law Enforcement Center received an emergency call at 9:11 a.m. Tuesday, in which it the caller reported an “active shooter and hearing gun shots” at the ECC, 901 N. Elm St. That call was made as the district was on lockdown.

Stender described a hectic situation – an overhead “active shooter” alert, strobing lights, and staff corralling young students – during which a staff member thought they heard gun shots.

“So they called 911,” said Stender. “That’s what triggered law enforcement. Our system did not trigger law enforcement. Our training, which is good, triggered law enforcement.”

Now that it has been confirmed that shots were not fired, Stender said he is unsure what the teacher heard, but with all the activity going on, it could have been anything.

“We train our staff, that regardless, it’s not whether or not you think – we don’t care – you think you’ve heard a gun shot, it’s a 911 call.”

Even though the report was a false alarm, Stender said the staff member did the right thing by calling 911.

The system malfunctioned a second time just before 2 p.m., as well.

Emergency response

Creston Police Chief Paul Vermeer said law enforcement – which included Creston Police, Union County Sheriff and Iowa DNR – were on scene within a minute of the call and immediately entered the building upon arrival, conducting a full sweep. It was determined that no active shooter was on site and Ver Meer said there was no evidence shots were fired.

Stender said Greater Regional Health paramedics did a good job blocking the street in front of the ECC with its ambulances.

As Mitch Pashek, a Creston officer who serves as the district’s resource officer, exited the ECC just before 9:30 a.m., and said the incident was a “false alarm.” The “all clear” alert was heard on the facility’s public announcement system, notifying educators and students that school activities could resume.

During a debriefing after the incident, it was asked why the system did not identify the source of the “gun shot.” Stender said there is a difference between an active shooter and gun shot detection, which identifies the location where a firearm has been discharged.

“If it was truly a gun shot, it would automatically notify law enforcement,” he said.

It’s also important to note that an “active shooter” can be defined as any individual with any kind of weapon or someone who displays threatening behavior.

“Active shooter is, if we see someone we think is a threat, might pose as an active threat to the district, we go into active shooter mode,” Stender said. “Gun shot (detection), everything is managed by the computer system. It triggers everything. It triggers the communication.”

Procedures in place for the district’s emergency situations are designed to notify emergency personnel first, and parents and guardians as quickly as possible thereafter. However, it can be very challenging.

“My struggle in that situation was, what I learned was, I’m hot, meaning, as soon as law enforcement came here and got me, I’m with law enforcement. I don’t have time to check my phone,” Stender said. “I don’t have any time to do anything but assist law enforcement in what’s going on. And until they’re done with me, I don’t have time to communicate to parents or anybody.”

Stender was able to slip away to quickly notify parents at approximately 9:25 a.m.

Steer clear

Before law enforcement was out of the building, distressed parents started arriving on scene. While it is a natural response, and OK to take a child out of school as a result of these incidents, it is advised parents to wait for school officials and law enforcement give the OK to do so.

Had the event been an actual active shooter situation, additional, unidentified people on scene create more obstacles for law enforcement as they search for a suspect. Additional vehicles create obstacles for ambulances and emergency vehicles. Parents sending family and friends not already on an approved pick-up lists, and parents calling in to give approval, create a challenge for school staff whose primary focus is to keep students protected, calm and quiet.

“For me to say what they should do is not reality in those situations,” Stender said of keeping parents away until it’s safe. “But our advisement is, stay where you’re at until you hear from the school district.”

Staying clear of the scene until notified is also for the safety of the parents.

“Between law enforcement and the school district, you will know when it’s safe and we’ll give you procedures, if you want to pick-up your child, how you can do that.”

Learning moment

Stender commended staff and students for the job they did during the lock down.

“It was like the building was empty when we went out there,” he said. “Everybody was stone-cold quiet.”

While the students and staff did their part, Stender said there were some lessons learned as a result of the event, such as not receiving a notification on his phone. The district has already reported to issue to the company that installed the equipment.

“I grabbed my phone because it allows us to go in to a conference call with people in law enforcement immediately,” he said.

In talking with parents following the event, Stender said some expressed frustration because of notification delays, which some people receiving notifications sooner than others or not at all. He said anyone can sign up for the notification system, but is frustrated with JMC’s notification system. The district will be looking at a new notification in the near future.

In a notification to parents this morning, Stender advised parents to talk with their children about today’s event.

“Let them share what their thoughts are. It may not be the reality of what was happening, but it helps them ... " he said.

While armed law enforcement did enter the building, Stender said students most likely did not see them as students were doing what they have practiced – staying in their locked room, away from doors and windows.

“Law enforcement didn’t enter the rooms, did room checks – lock, lock, lock – kept moving on,” he said. “There’s still that fear that could still exist, or that trauma that could still exist.”