WWU, Bellingham police to conduct SWAT training in Old Main May 10 and 24

The Western Washington University Police Department and the Bellingham Police Department SWAT Team will be conducting SWAT training sessions on campus in the month of May.

As part of the training exercises, officers will conduct tactical building searches of all floors of the Old Main building on campus. Police aim to provide low-exposure training so as not to cause any disturbances or alarm to the campus community.

The exercises will be conducted from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday, May 10, and Monday, May 24.

During the building searches, officers will conduct quick sweeps into various areas, looking for actors posing as suspects or victims. Employees' personal property, including work stations, cabinets and cupboards, will not be searched or disturbed. Employees who don't want their offices or areas entered during the exercise may place a sticky notes marked with an X on their doors. SWAT members will bypass any offices or rooms where they find these sticky notes or where they find that the doors are locked.

On the two training nights, SWAT members plan to clear the building prior to training and to post "building closed to public" signs at all entrances. If custodial crews are required to be in the building during the training hours, a yellow traffic safety vest will be provided to them to denote that they are not participants. A safety briefing will be provided to the custodians as well.

The WWU Police Department arranged for this joint training endeavor to familiarize Bellingham Police SWAT teams with the Western campus in the event that their services will be needed in the future.

Those with questions or concerns should contact Sgt. Bianca Smith of the WWU Police Department at (360) 650-3555.