LANCASTER – Security officers from HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, and members of the East Lampeter Township Police Department (ELTPD) joined forces Saturday, May 25, 2013, for an active shooter exercise at HACC’s Lancaster Campus.

The exercise brought together a dozen officers from the two departments for classroom and active tactical training exercises from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

“We are partners in ensuring the safety of the campus,” said Edwin Dominguez, HACC’s interim director of security. “In the event of a crisis, the ELTPD has jurisdiction. Establishing guidelines for protocol during emergency situations allows the two teams to work together as a seamless operation.”

“We are pleased to participate in a joint training event with HACC’s public safety officers,” said ELTPD Chief John M. Bowman. “Hopefully this training exercise will be one of many in the near future. We have been honored in the past to work with HACC public safety professionals and this training exercise is a continued extension of that partnership.”

HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski, Ed.D., said, “Partnering with the ELTPD was instructive for our security professionals and the police department. Active shooter exercises enhance our department’s knowledge of how to address and better prepare us to effectively work with the responding law enforcement agencies and each other.”

Sygielski continued, “Even though we cannot prevent active shooter events, trainings such as these allow us to better safeguard those who we are entrusted to protect – our students, employees and visitors to the College.”

Dominguez said, “Not only is it an important step in providing solid guidelines for protocol during a crisis, it is promoting good will and cooperation between HACC security officers and local police.”

Dominguez said similar exercises have been held with other local police departments with jurisdiction at HACC’s campuses. For more information about HACC's emergency procedures, please visit http://www.hacc.edu/AboutUs/Security/Emergency-Procedures.cfm ).