Earlier this week Campus Safety gained some experience it hopes it never has to use in real life.
Active shooter drills were conducted Monday and Tuesday night in the Administration Building.
Campus Safety used the drills to make sure they could handle an emergency.
"We just try to test our procedures, test our staff to make sure that we're prepared … if an emergency does arise," Campus Safety Director Clarence Green said. "If you don't drill or practice, how do you ever get proficient?"
The drills also included representatives from the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Maryville Public Safety as well as all Campus Safety officers.
Drills like these help test University emergency procedures and helps both University and community officers understand their roles in an emergency, Green said.
The drills ensure officers are trained for any type of emergency situation. There are two drills a year for intruder response, one on a chemical situation and one tornado drill, Green said.
After each scenario, there was feedback so those participating could improve for the next synopsis.
"When you go to training, that's what it's about, to expose those opportunities for improvement and to address them right there," Green said.
About three years ago, two officers from the University, two officers from Maryville Public Safety and one from the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department attended a training session so they could teach the departments in the area. Now there is uniformity when the different departments collaborate efforts, Green said.
"It (joint training) builds some trust and it also builds some resiliency within those groups so I think it's really meaningful for what it does for overall campus," Green said.
Monday night's drill began with an introduction for Northwest cabinet members who were educated on previous active shooter situations.They also received information on the strategies local law enforcement agencies will use in real-life situations.
"I think it's really nice when we have that leadership of the institution there, it's not too often that you see the president at eight at night, and he's out here at a live drill participating in it," Green said. "That really builds camaraderie and trust within the institution."
The drill helped the Cabinet understand what goes on during an emergency situation since they will be at the command center. They could also give their feedback during the drill.
"They'll understand from the ground floor what's going on in an emergency in those early stages so then they're better prepared to make a coordinated effort for response, resources (and) communication to the public because they'll have a deeper understanding of what's going on in an emergency," Green said.
In addition to the Cabinet's participation, Northwest students volunteered to simulate people in a building where there is an emergency.
Students from Residential Life and students who work within Campus Safety volunteered for the event.
The students simulated what would happen inside a building if a shooting would occur. Some stayed where they were with orange tape marking ficticious wounds.
Participating in the drills helped the students understand what goes on during an emergency so they can help calm those around them, Green said.
Junior Bryana Haugen volunteered to serve a student in the drill. She works for Residential Life and volunteered so she could see how officials handled active shooter situations and see what her role as a resident assistant would be in the situations the drills simulated.
Sophomore RA Danielle Easton also volunteered for the drill. She used the drill as a refresher course so some of the information she received in training to be a resident assistant.
"I feel they (Campus Safety) can handle anything that comes," Easton said.
Large exercises, like this week's, aren't the only times for officers to practice what they've learned. There are practices during their shifts to keep their skills fresh, Green said.
The drills have been conducted for the past seven years.
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