OSD Lockdown Ends

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Henry Ruark November 11, 2006 10:39 am (Pacific time)

"Been there-done same" is only real answer for understanding what K. Rau is telling you. So happens I have done so, once or twice when outcome was much more bloody than this one...and if you are part of those responsible you work at it till blood oozes through forehead...actually. Answer often turns out to be more responsibilities by parents and others UNclose to irresponsibles usually involved. But if anyone in doubt, take that ride with those who risk their lives daily for the rest of us...as any seasoned reporter can tell you "It ain't easy !!"

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Kevin Rau November 9, 2006 11:10 am (Pacific time)

Not everyone was at the OSF for this incident. There were Officers and Deputies handling calls for service throught this event. The staffing levels were not ideal but they all stepped up and got the job done.

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Mel November 8, 2006 8:56 pm (Pacific time)

Prison planet USA...bring it on!

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steve November 8, 2006 6:36 pm (Pacific time)

Good point!!! but what if some1 would have rob a bank or a store....or a real shooting at a school! all the officer were tied up at the OSD!

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Kevin Rau November 8, 2006 9:28 am (Pacific time)

I'm a Deputy with and the Public Information Officer for the Marion County Sheriff's Office. What I would like to make clear, and I think I can safely speak for all of the law enforcement agencies and individuals involved in this incident, is that the law enforcement response was phenomenal from an interagency cooperation and tactical standpoint. With the school shooting incidents we've all heard about over the couple of decades, we all dread the thought of a call like this. What we have done is take a good hard look at what went right and, more importantly, what went wrong in the emergency response to those incidents. The tactical response to an incident like this has to be calculated and methodical. It takes time to develop a tactical plan and search every room, nook and cranny of a building such as a school. In this particular case the building is a multi-story building with many rooms. If there had been someone in the building with a gun, our tactical teams would have found them. To say "wouldn't you think that after an hour or so they would have called it quits?" makes this seem much more simple that it actually was. Responding law enforcement didn't know that it was a hoax until the last room was searched. Even then, we have to consider the possibility that an armed person could have left the school and gone into the surrounding neighborhood. I would hope the same Salem taxpayers referred to in Allen's post would expect us to cross all the T's and dot all the I's before we "call it quits". I was there on Monday, with my colleagues from the Oregon State Police, Salem Police Department and Keizer Police Department standing shoulder to shoulder worried about the safety and welfare of the students and the staff in the school and the school’s neighbors. The Salem Fire Department was also there, prepared for the worst. I can’t tell you how much of a relief it was when it was determined to be a false report. The person that made the call should be held to account and you can rest assured that investigators will do their best to track that person down. I might suggest to the others who submitted posts here that they should contact their local law enforcement agency and ask to do a ride-along to really get to know them and see what they/we deal with every day.

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steve November 8, 2006 8:37 am (Pacific time)

I think people should reg. as Meth user,ahol user,and hoaxer too that lie!

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J November 7, 2006 10:22 am (Pacific time)

Is there anyone else here who has a child in Baker and was NOT notified of the lockdown? Many parents were not called and had to find out via other means. What are the rules of parental contact when it comes to a school being locked down? It would be nice to see some of these issues explored by Salem-News.com.

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steve November 7, 2006 9:13 am (Pacific time)

I guess the salem people dont have nothing better to do with their time! and the kids that lie too about some1 touching them... Hoax!

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Steve November 7, 2006 9:04 am (Pacific time)

But that's salem for you! look at the woman that called in 9 times to the 911 center and said she was kidnapped! and she was in a trunk of a car.....but i didnt make them calls! go fig! sure keeps salem busy! and the swat team too!

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Allen November 6, 2006 9:57 pm (Pacific time)

It was a hoax!! I hate to think of what this cost Salem taxpayers, not to mention all the Oregon State Police that became involved in this multi-hour exercise. They locked-down a Huge area of neighborhood and searched every square inch looking for people who didn't exist. The problem is today they never know if the threat is real or a hoax. But wouldn't you think that after an hour or so they would call it quits? I can see how a home located near a school may soon be considered of lesser value.

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