The sound of gunshots rang out on the Bellevue University campus around 10:00 Friday morning. That was followed by a response from every law enforcement agency in Sarpy County along with fire and rescue personnel and the state patrol.
Unlike the deadly shooting at a Texas high school Friday morning, the scene in Bellevue thankfully was just a training exercise. The scenario involved a gunman who went into the Muller Administrative Services building and shot several people and took others hostage.
Bellevue Fire Chief Perry Guido says the exercise took about 18 months to plan and coordinate with all of the agencies along with Bellevue University.
University President Mary Hawkins says after hearing about the deadly shooting in Texas, the training exercise became much more real for her. "We're practicing and it feels real. I can't even imagine what it would be like in a real situation. It's unimaginable."
In addition to university staff and volunteers, up to 150 first responders from the La Vista, Papillion and Bellevue police and fire departments, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Offutt Air Force Base Fire Department and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office participated in the exercise.
A medical helicopter was also sent to the campus. The training was funded by a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
But he says the Texas shooting sadly illustrates the neccessity of full scale drills like this one.
"A chilling reminder of how important something like this is and for us to drill on it. We never want this to happen."