Today is the last weekday before classes begin for the fall on the campus of Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington.  It was yet another beautiful sunny and mild day, few of these are in store for us as fall draws in.  I decided to get a little fresh air and run some last-minute errands before my schedule would be bogged down with courses and studying.  One of those tasks was to obtain the fall parking permit for my car which is done at the Security building on campus downtown.

Driving down the side streets, I was headed toward my typical parking area in the student lots.  As I neared, I saw the mass of police cars and emergency response vehicles, more than I imagined this city had.  My parking lot was barricaded off with "DANGER" tape and being watched over by someone to prevent people from breaking past the barrier.  I made a u-turn in the street and found parking next to a church a block away.  I walked to the Security building without concern, and waited inside for the clerk to attend to me.  In the background, I heard the squawking over emergency radio; status updates of buildings as they were swept and cleared for dangerous individuals.  Still, I was not concerned.  Why?

Today, September 20, 2013 is the day that Olympic College played host to a drill aimed at testing the emergency response to a shooter on campus.  It is officially called a "Homeland Security Training Exercise".  While it only affected portions of the campus, it was difficult not to be impacted by this event.  I'm not talking about if it created a burden for students wishing to prepare for classes on the last free weekday before the fall quarter begins.  I am not talking about how all the personnel involved with this drill had to deal with us returning students getting in the way.  I mean that it really made me realize a tragedy such as this mock exercise could easily happen here, could happen to us.

We were told that there would be over 100 actors in costume and make-up, portraying injured or deceased.  These participants were expected to use simulated weapons that look and sound like real guns.  While the area was cautioned not to be alarmed at the sounds of 

gunfire and sirens, it still may cause a slight response of fear.  The president of Olympic College was quoted in saying the intent is not to frighten, but to prepare.  I can honestly say it brings a small amount of comfort knowing our area is making an attempt to formulate some kind of response to a tragedy we are seeing all to frequently these past years.

To see more photos of this event, click here:  Photojournalism Olympic College Security Drill