BELLVILLE - Hearts quicken, pulses race and a sick feeling in the stomach precludes hearing the first shots of an active shooter in the Bellville Junior High building. Law enforcement across the area descended on the Bellville Junior High, Bellville Fire Department set up command posts and the Austin County EMS raced to the scene to administer first aid.
It was only a practice drill, but June 15 felt like it could have been any number of school shootings that have triggered emergency responses across the nation. Just imagining this dreaded scenario happening in our small communities should sicken everyone.
The exercise was well orchestrated. Even the real police could not bring in their weapons. After checking in and a quick briefing, everyone reported to their staging area and the exercise commenced. The exercise is set as real as possible.
The sounds of weapons dis charging, shouts and screams of the shooter and his victims, the smell of gunpowder and the visage of seeing bodies lying on the floor - some calling for help and some lying motionless. Victims were played by the boy's athletics department and some observers.
Police, fire and rescue descended upon the school in record time when the call went out. The shooter went down hallways, into the cafeteria, and back down another hallway, shooting at anyone he felt he wanted to shoot. A helicopter flew overhead, and the rhythmic thumping of the helicopter blades could be heard within the school halls.
The police swept through the building methodically and cleared rooms until the shooter was located and neutralized. EMS entered the building and attended to the wounded. The school's protocols dealing with an active shooter worked like it should.
After the ordeal and the scene was secured, Austin County Judge Tim Lapham and Bellville ISD Superintendent Nicole Poenitzsch held a media press conference where they faced a real camera and reporters asking hardball questions. Both came across as seasoned and professional in their answers as they fielded questions they may encoun- ter when national reporters descend on a tight-knit community and ask questions that would be hard to answer.
Bear in mind that none of this was scripted except for the safety of everyone involved. Pictures taken at the exercise that would make good fodder for big media would likely be too graphic for some.
Exercise supervisors Dr. Michael Coopersmith, Bellville Police Chief Jason Smalley and Austin County EMC Roy Mercer were integral in putting this together. Much not wanted but much needed, this type of exercise will become routine.
