Humber North mock lockdown puts security measures to test

Nov 12, 2015 | News

Matthew Pariselli, Javon Walker and Eric Wickham

Humber North gave its security system a trial with an emergency lockdown exercise Thursday morning.

The lockdown elicited a mixed reaction from students.

Not all members of the college community demonstrated concern or even responded to procedure.

Some students were indifferent to the exercise, unfazed by the orders rung out over the P.A. system and by security officials monitoring the operation.

Toronto Police Const. Ryan Willmer addressed the students who seemed unmoved by the efforts of the department of public safety.

“They think it’s a joke. All you have to do is go up to them and kind of educate them. It’s all about education. I’m not going to say most students are ignorant to the fact but they don’t really take it seriously until something real happens,” he said.

“Our goal is to get them to realize it before something real happens.”

Rob Kilfoyle, director of public safety at Humber College, echoed the sentiments.

“We do want them to think about if there was a real situation where they would go and what they would do,” he said.

Kilfoyle stressed the importance of safety throughout the process.

“Our instructions to folks are to do what makes them feel safe. People feel safe in different ways. We encourage people to participate in the exercises,” he said.

“But there are those who say, ‘No, I’m good. I’m safe where I’m at.’” We’re not going to strong-arm them and force them into rooms.”

At 10:10 a.m. Thursday, an announcement over the P.A. system directed students and staff to comply with specified practices outlined on information boards in classrooms.

The guidelines advise people to enter an enclosed safe space, lock the door, cover windows and lie on the floor or crouch behind a desk.

Lockdown officer Tony Santeramo said instruction to sit beneath a desk is a misstep that led to several fatalities in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in which 12 students and one teacher were killed.

He said the students who lost their lives in Columbine were “sitting ducks” under their desks.

Observing the mock lockdown Thursday at Humber, Santeramo said hiding and getting out of plain sight is of the utmost importance.

Taking coverage beneath a desk is not sufficient protection.

The department of safety did due diligence by instructing people on the protocol to follow.

Humber College has a video detailing lockdown protocol in the event of an armed attacker.

There is a second mock lockdown scheduled at Humber North for Saturday, Nov. 14 and third Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Willmer said both upcoming lockdowns will include the presence of a simulated assailant.