Emergency exercise set for Maine South

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:15AM

Maine South High School and city of Park Ridge public service personnel will conduct an “Active Shooter Exercise” the morning of Feb. 14 at the high school. The drill’s purpose is to gauge how Maine South and Park Ridge emergency personnel would respond to reports of an active shooter inside the school.

The exercise, which will start soon after first-period classes begin at 7:45 a.m., will consist of police responding to reports of shots fired; of school personnel implementing the school’s “hard lockdown” procedures to keep students and staff inside their classrooms; and of police moving through the building to engage and stop the shooter. Once the exercise is complete, regular classes will resume.

Motorists driving along Dee Road, Talcott Road or Devon Avenue may notice the presence of Park Ridge Police and other emergency personnel on Maine South’s campus as early as 7:15 a.m. Community members should be aware that while police participating in the drill will be carrying rifles, there will be no live ammunition inside the school.

After the drill is completed, participants will assess the exercise, to determine adherence to procedures covering such emergencies and to identify and discuss unexpected developments and determine what steps can be taken to better prepare for and react to an actual emergency of this nature. Participating will be Maine South, Maine Township High School District 207, Park Ridge Police, Fire and Public Works Departments and the North Suburban Emergency Communications Center.

Access to the Maine South campus (1132 S. Dee Road) will be restricted on Feb. 14 until the drill has been completed.