In an effort to strengthen emergency planning and response, Clover Park Technical College
will be hosting a full-scale emergency exercise on May 17 in conjunction with
the Lakewood Police Department, West Pierce Fire & Rescue, and City of Lakewood .
The Lakewood Campus of CPTC will be closed to external
visitors for the day to ensure the safety of all staff, volunteers, and first
responders involved. Community members are asked to postpone visits to the
campus, if possible. No student services will be available and the Learning Resource Center
will be closed.
During the exercise Lakewood
police officers and fire personnel will be actively responding to exercise
scenarios to provide realistic training and coordination.
“This exercise will allow us to practice a series of
scenarios with our Lakewood
counterparts that will better prepare us in the event of an emergency,” said
Dr. John Walstrum, CPTC president. “The safety and security of our students
remains a top priority for this campus, and we are very appreciative of our
community counterparts for participating in this significant drill.”
Extra precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of
all participants in the exercise, while ensuring the training is realistic.
“We always want to be prepared for anything and this type of
training ensures that we can respond quickly and efficiently to this type of
scenario. We appreciate the opportunity
to work with the staff at CPTC, our City partners and the fire service.” said
Lakewood PD.
The day will feature a series of scenarios requiring varying
levels of actions from first responders in Lakewood . The results of this event will
include increased coordination throughout Lakewood ’s
emergency management system, future training materials to share, and promising
practices for real-world response.
“Last year the Pierce County Fire Chiefs implemented an
Active Shooter Protocol, so fire and police could work in a coordinated effort
to remove patients quickly from the environment and get them the medical
attention they need quickly. This is our
chance to practice that coordinated effort,” said EMS Battalion Chief Bill
Barber of West Pierce Fire & Rescue.
For questions regarding activities scheduled at Clover Park
Technical College
on May 17, please call 253-589-5819.



