Broward Sheriff's Office Trains for Shooting and Hostage Situation at Pompano Beach High School

Students participate in simulation to help officers train for shooting at school

The Broward Sheriff's Office held a shooting and a hostage situation at Pompano Beach High School Friday in an effort to prepare first responders for a worst case scenario.

"These incidents unfortunately keep happening across the country, we have to kind of change our tactics at times and try to evolve with it unfortunately," BSO Capt. Eddie Grant said.

This mass casualty simulation took place at this high school because organizers said it's easier since it's closed Friday. Easier than taking over a shopping mall for instance.

Some students spent their day off playing the victims.

"I'm supposed to be dying, I think they're still trying to save me I don't know if they have much of a chance," said student participant Sarah Pardy.

But despite the novelty aspect for the students, many do think about the latest reports of shooters and bombs at public places.

"Death is not something anyone would take lightly, the Boston Marathon, what happened with them, that just happened a couple week ago," student Rubi Pena said. "Death seems like it's all around and it's not something that you should just put in the back of your mind you have to take in account those are people that lost their lives."

The simulation was pretty real and an important exercise for local law enforcement and the students here who say they're more vigilant about their safety than ever before.

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