Burlington police terrified high school students with simulated shooting | News | Seven days

While teaching a class to high school students Wednesday, Burlington police officers staged a surprise demonstration during which a masked gunman burst into the room and pretended to open fire.

The simulation, which took place at the Burlington police station, was intended to demonstrate the unreliability of witness statements. But the lack of warning – and the loud sounds of gunfire – caused students to run for cover, fearing for their lives.

In response, the Burlington school district apologized to parents and offered counseling services.

Students and parents who spoke with Seven days expressed shock and outrage, saying the protest played on the fears of students who grew up amid increasing violence in schools nationwide.

“I’m baffled,” said one mother, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her daughter’s identity. “A school shooting poses a very real threat to children today. It's something that worries them.

The incident occurred during a forensics class offered as part of Burlington High School's annual graduation program. The approximately 20 students in attendance were told they would tour the police department and receive a presentation on how detectives solve crimes.

Two students who spoke on condition of anonymity said the class was facing the front of the room and listening to a detective speak when they heard screaming behind them. Two women came running, the students said, followed by a man wearing a ski mask and holding a gun. Then the sounds of gunshots rang out.

One of the students said she dove to the floor, scraping her knee. The other said she hurried to find her phone so she could text her mother.

“I'm shaking and crying because I'm like, 'Oh my God, I'm going to get shot,'” she said. “It was so real.”

The students said they were not informed in advance of the protest. They realized it was fake only after noticing that the police in the room did nothing to stop the fake shooter, they said.

Burlington school district officials confirmed the protest took place, saying in a statement to Seven days On Thursday morning, teachers knew that police might demonstrate a “gunshot crime,” but not that it would happen without warning.

In an email to parents Wednesday afternoon obtained by Seven daysTeachers said officers told them they had already used the lesson with students and adults and wanted the event to be “as realistic as possible.”

“The detectives apologized after realizing the reenactment did not translate well to the high school students,” the teachers wrote.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad was away for a conference and available for an interview. A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Murad informed Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's office of the event Wednesday evening, she said.

On Thursday, Mulvaney-Stanak expressed disappointment over the incident. She said she feared police would carry out a simulated shooting in front of high school students, much less without warning them first. She said she had asked the ministry to “think about why [the demonstration] was problematic. »

The incident comes two days after Mulvaney-Stanak reappointed Murad over the objections of her progressive colleagues on the city council, who criticized her leadership. Mulvaney-Stanak said Thursday she is not rethinking her decision but plans to meet with department heads in July to “set goals” for next year, including how the city engages with public.

“Obviously that will be part of the mix,” she said.