WOODLAND-

The Woodland Police Department took advantage of a non-classroom day to train officers to deal with a shooter on campus Monday.

Role players were used as patrol officers and investigators from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office approached and secured a classroom.

Police officials say the training is valuable in getting to know the campus where lives might be at stake.  But they also say the training is applicable to any large building where citizens are threatened, like at the courthouse or a bank. It is also helpful for patrol officers who are the first to respond to such incidents where fast action is a must.  Usually it takes an hour or more to assemble a SWAT  team.

School district officials say they also work on evacuation plans with police and a communications protocol so students, teachers and parents get accurate information on incidents.  Students are told what to do when there is a dangerous campus intruder and where to go so they are safe.

Police say the campus training is part of their on-going training program of officers.