By Steven M. Jacobson

Buffalo State College police released new information on the Incident Command System, which is qualified to handle situations from a civil disturbance to a terrorist situation.

On March 21, Buffalo State College Police added counter-terrorism training to its ICS plan. While students were away on spring break, Buffalo State, along with Buffalo SWAT and many other local law enforcement agencies, conducted a counter terrorism exercise. This exercise posed the following situation:

• Two terrorists hijacked an NFTA bus.
• Police forced the bus on to campus to the S-2 parking lot.
• There were 20 hostages.
• The terrorists were armed with weapons and a bomb.

The drill provided new training for BSC police, and gave a new look to the Incident Command System.

Many students are not aware of the ICS system. Recently BSC police have posted the plan on its website in hope that student can become aware if an emergency occurs.

“Our emergency plan describes what anyone on campus should do if there is a suspicious person; to a fire,” say BSC Chief of Police Roger Wisniewski.

According to the BSC police, the plan breaks down into several roles:

• The role of the student includes each student to familiarize himself/herself with each emergency situation.
• The faculty and staff should read their building and department plans and study evacuation routes.
• Each building has a building coordinator. He/she is responsible that the Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) is designated and, in case of an emergency, they must evacuate the building safely.
• There is an Emergency Assembly Area (EAA) in case of an emergency. It is located at the sports arena in Houston Gym.
• An Emergency Operation Center (its location remains undisclosed for security purposes) has emergency phone lines and other forms of communication, incase disaster strikes.

“I think we have one of the best Emergency Operation Plans (EOP) in SUNY and in the Eastern United States,” Wisniewski exclaims.

According to Wisniewski and the BSC Web Site the Buffalo State College Police are also trained for civil disturbances, demonstration procedures, criminal or violent behavior, bomb threat procedures, hazardous materials procedures, utility failure, elevator failure, flooding, gas leak, steam line failure, ventilation problems, active shooter procedure, and terrorist activities.

With the training of the Buffalo State College Police and the implication of the Incident Command System, BSC proves to be a safe place for all students.

Links:

Police Safety Page