Out of Control Cops Stage School Safety in Full Riot Gear

Associated Press | October 29, 2006

WYOMING, Mich. (AP) -- A school safety drill that included police officers 
in riot gear with weapons has caused concern among some parents who say it 
was too realistic and frightened some students.

Police in the western Michigan community of Wyoming entered two classrooms 
at Lee Middle and High School on Thursday and announced there was a threat 
to the school, The Grand Rapids Press reported.

Students, who were unaware police were conducting a drill, were taken from 
the classroom into the halls, patted down by officers and asked what they 
had in their pockets, the newspaper said.

"Some of these kids were so scared, they just about wet their pants," said 
Marge Bradshaw, a parent with four children in Godfrey-Lee Schools. "I think 
it's pure wrong that the students and parents were not informed of this."



Officers wore protective gear, including vests and helmets, and carried 
rifles that were unloaded and marked with colored tape to indicate they were 
not live weapons, the newspaper said.

Diana Silva, a parent of an eighth-grade student, said the drill went too 
far.

"My child was with his face to the wall in the hallway of the high
school," 
Silva said. "I certainly don't want anything like this happening to my 
child."

Principal David Britten said students weren't told ahead of time to make the 
drill as realistic as possible. Teachers were informed moments before it 
took place, he said.

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"I think this is the best way to do it," Britten said.
"We're not looking to 
scare anyone, but we want a sense of urgency."

But Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody said his officers were not aware 
students and parents were not told. He said his department will mandate that 
parents be notified ahead of time in the future.

"The purpose was to show how we will evacuate the classroom, not to assault 
the classroom," Carmody said.
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