Matt Kroschel

Photo Editor 

A van overturns after a high speed chase. Students are trapped in the van. The driver flees police, takes hostages, and shoots bystanders in Grand Junction. The scene was real enough, with broken glass, guns and fake blood. But the “disaster” was a tool used to train Mesa State College students and give them hands-on experience.

The MSC Joint Discipline Capstone Casualty Event, held March 19, forced students to use their classroom work in a real life situation, according to event organizer Danny Barela. 

The Grand Junction police and fire department were on scene to observe the students and their ability to deal with the pressure of the casualty event.

“We want to make it as real life as possible, so that when these students hit the career, they will have the mental and physical readiness to do their job,” Barela said.

Students were told to treat anyone not wearing an observer vest as an actual participant, so even the media gathered on scene to cover the event, were told by student police officers to stand back.

This is the second year for the causality event at the college and both event organizers and students alike found the hands-on training useful.

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mkrosche@mesastate.edu