With recent shootings across the United States, the ISU Police Department continues to do their part to ensure public and campus safety. On Thursday, Aug. 16, the ISU Police began their fall training session in the basement of Ross Hall to practice response to active shooters or a homicide in progress situation.

“We do this two or three times a year and have for the last five years,” said Capt. Darin Van Ryswyk. “This was planned a couple months ago so the shootings recently are just more of a reason for why we continue to do this.”

Van Ryswyk said there are no new threats to cause concern on campus. Continually reevaluating training tactics and methodology allows for fast response times and proper management of any problem, Van Ryswyk said.

He encouraged anyone in the community to come forward when they have an uneasy feeling about any individual and explains programs that offer help to the community.

“We have an outstanding threat management program run by Capt. Carrie Jacobs. If there’s bullying in the workplace, if there’s violence or if there’s that person in the classroom that gives you that bad vibe.”  

The university resources can provide help with student and employee conflicts as well as abusive relationships.

“Crimes against people, even if they seem trivial, they start somewhere and they can increase to the point where they become violent,” Van Ryswyk said. “This training is a fail-safe, because we couldn’t stop it or weren’t aware of it.”

Lt. Josh Hale hopes if anything comes from the training this year a goal would be a better relationship with the Ames Police force.

“We want to work with the Ames police department and develop a relationship during the training that allows us to respond as a team,” Hale said.

Another program recommended by ISU Police, Violent Incident Response Training helps prepare students, faculty and staff for what an active shooter situation could be like and how to protect themselves.

“We encourage people to get more information on the programs and to call if they see anything suspicious,” Hale said. “We’d rather have them call and have it be nothing then not call and have it be something we should know about.”