Serious schooling

MOSES LAKE — It's about 3:30 Wednesday afternoon when the first shots are fired at Moses Lake High School.

School security officers soon report numerous injuries throughout the school. One of the two unknown shooters has taken hostages inside a classroom. Screams pour out of other classrooms as the school's intercom announces a Level 1 lockdown inside the building. As dozens of law officers descend upon the school, shooting victims inside the school await help from Emergency Medical Technicians.

The scene inside MLHS Wednesday was a drill, but the training gained for law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel is as real as it gets. The exercise was one organized by the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team, and representatives from most Grant and Adams County law enforcement agencies took part in the two-hour training exercise.

The team has done similar drills in the past, but MLPD Captain Jim Jenkins said this was one of the team's largest to date. Jenkins called the exercise a successful one, and said the team will hopefully hold additional drills in the future for further improvement.

"There's so many different organizations and interests involved that you have to have a coordinated response," Jenkins said.

Observers from Big Bend Community College were allowed to watch from the school's commons as crews passed through, and later recovered the handful of injured victims lain out on the room's floor.

One of the injured was MLHS sophomore Scott Moberg, who had covered himself in fake blood to play out a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

"I thought it went pretty well," Moberg said after the exercise.

Moberg was carried off by crews and treated for his injuries during the standoff. He was one of dozens of students, teachers and other volunteers willing to be victims and hostages for the drill.

"It just increases the teamwork between emergency response and the schools," said MLHS Vice Principal James Yonko said of the drill.

Yonko said that in the event of a critical incident like a shooting at his school, communications with emergency response crews is key.

"I think we'll keep current," he said, "and make sure communications channels stay open."

Moses Lake School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut also saw the program as a success, and said he was impressed by the team work of all the different agencies involved. He added that the program should be a good one to do again in the future.

"I think it is something that's good to do now and then," he said, "try and maintain a good relationship."