Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer

(Deb Malewski/FAN – Eaton Rapids City Council member Ken Nicholas receives mock medical treatment while portraying an injured victim during the Aug. 13 training exercise.)

For a few moments, the situation felt frighteningly real.

Young people screamed. Emergency responders moved into action. Police, firefighters, and EMTs rushed toward danger while others worked to protect and care for those who were hurt. Somewhere in the chaos, people were injured, and one of Eaton Rapids’ elected officials was killed.

Except it wasn’t real.

The screams came from 73 high school students/actors portraying victims in an active violence training exercise sponsored by the Eaton Rapids Police Department (ERPD) and the Eaton County Active Violence Incident (AVI) Team. The injuries were simulated. The death was part of the scenario. And yet, knowing it was only practice did little to erase the tension of the moment.

On Aug. 13, approximately 300 area public safety personnel gathered near Greyhound Intermediate School to test their ability to respond to a rapidly unfolding crisis. Local elected officials participated as well, giving them a small glimpse of the confusion, urgency, and difficult decisions that accompany an emergency of this magnitude. Nearby residents were informed of the event.

“It’s something we hope to never need,” said Eaton Rapids Mayor Pam Colestock, “but we must be prepared if it should ever happen.”

“Training like this serves a valuable purpose,” said Lieutenant Paul Creger of ERPD, one of the event organizers. “We can work on skills, techniques, and tactics with people who we will likely partner with in an actual emergency, using the equipment and gear that we will need. This helps so that when we are needed most, we are ready.”

Chief Paul Brentar of the Charlotte Police Department explained the purpose even more simply: “Today is the day to make all the mistakes. When we’re doing it for real out there, we want to do it right.”

The event opened with a parade scenario. A person in a truck had crashed into the band students, opened fire, and fled the scene. Emergency personnel immediately responded but had to proceed cautiously because they did not know where the shooter was. Police surrounded the medical responders with guns drawn, protecting them while they began treating the wounded.

“It was a real eye-opener to see the coordination of an event this size and how important it is for all of us, including City Council, to know what our roles are in the event something like this should happen,” Colestock said.

Colestock’s role included addressing the public, communicating information about the incident and providing reassurance and direction during a crisis. She faced the cameras and addressed the community as she would if the situation were real, with support from Police Chief Larry Weeks and City Manager Yvonne Ridge.

“It felt very real. I kept thinking about how it would feel if this was a real press conference, and I can say that it would be difficult to keep composure and not get lost in the emotions of it all,” Colestock said. “But you have to, to get the information out to everyone.”

City Council member Ken Nicholas was a “victim” in the incident. Makeup was applied to those assigned injuries, and Nicholas had a realistic bullet wound on his neck. He ultimately died as part of the scenario.

Ten “victims” were transported from the scene to Eaton Rapids Medical Center so medical professionals could also practice their emergency protocols.

The afternoon session moved to the stadium, where responders faced a simulated shooting during a football game, providing another scenario and a different set of challenges.

“Some might not want to think about the unthinkable,” City Council member Rick Loftus said. “I think that’s natural. These professionals not only think about it; they prepare and do something.”

Participants included personnel from Eaton Rapids Police, Fire and EMS, along with representatives from Charlotte, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan State University, Bath Township, Lansing Fire Department and Grand Ledge. Eaton County Victim Advocates, 911 dispatchers, and the Medical Examiner’s Office also participated.

Responders practice to identify problems, learn from mistakes, and build the coordination necessary before endangered lives are at stake.