The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Emergency notification systems ready at local colleges

A shooting incident similar to one at Ohio State would lead to communications.

Sinclair Community College campus police Officer Nick Toscani makes his rounds on campus Tuesday, March 9. Staff photo by Jim Noelker

JIM NOELKER/Sinclair Community College Campu Sinclair Community College campus police Officer Nick Toscani makes his rounds on campus Tuesday, March 9. Staff photo by Jim Noelker

ENLARGE PHOTO

Frozen yogurt shop offers frenzy of flavors, toppings
5:58 p.m.
Wright-Patterson relatively unscathed in Obama defense budget
4:55 p.m.
Dayton Mall shoe store moving
4:32 p.m.
Cracker Barrel manager accused of embezzling $2K
3:38 p.m.
Is your “unlimited” data being throttled?
2:32 p.m.
> More headlines

By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer 11:46 PM Tuesday, March 9, 2010

DAYTON — News of a campus shooting like the one Tuesday, March 9, at Ohio State University would be quickly transmitted at most Dayton-area colleges and universities through high-tech emergency notification systems.

Students, faculty and staff at the University of Dayton, Wright State University and Central State University would be alerted by phone, e-mail or text message during the initial stages of an incident, according to university officials.

Sinclair Community College is working to institute a similar notification system, said spokeswoman Natasha Baker. Currently, Sinclair uses e-mail alerts and its public address system, among other tools.

Two Ohio State University employees were shot by a third employee about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in the OSU Maintenance Building.

The shooter, Nathaniel Brown, 51, a custodial worker, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot at the scene and was taken to OSU Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Larry Wallington, 48, building services manager, died at the scene. Henry Butler, 60, operations shift leader was in stable condition Tuesday at the OSU Medical Center.

Ohio State released documents from Brown’s personnel file showing that supervisors complained he was tardy, slept on the job and had problems following instructions. The university sent him a letter March 2 informing him that his employment was to end Saturday.

At no time were any students in danger, according to Ohio State officials. The university continued normal operations Tuesday.

Most Dayton-area colleges and universities enhanced their emergency notification procedures following the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech that killed 32 people.

Officials said the systems would be activated during events that create a significant threat, including tornado warnings, large environmental or hazardous material incidents, and acts of violence or criminal activity that present a risk of physical harm.

Area college emergency policies and procedures also include:

• UD’s mass emergency notification system reaches people on campus by phone, e-mail or text messaging.

• Wright State’s alert system includes a building notification system that can provide instructions to occupants. It also includes e-mail and opt-in text messaging notifications; voice messages on campus telephones; messaging on the Wright State Web site home page; and an operator-staffed phone number.

• Sinclair police will lock down buildings or evacuate them as necessary depending on the threat. Sinclair police conduct “active shooter” training annually during a joint training exercise with local law enforcement agencies, SWAT and hostage negotiation teams.

• Central State has a campus-wide cell phone emergency notification system to alert students, faculty and staff. Central State officials can close off access at all campus entry/exit points if there is a threatening situation to people on campus.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Local

Share this article