Preparing for danger: Local police train to handle shootings

Georgia Southern University Police officer Scott Sanford, left, takes the point as they sweep hallways and classrooms of the Newton Building in simulated search for a gunman as local law enforcement teams up for an active shooter training exercise on campus Tuesday.

W 031312 POLICE TRAINING 01 — Georgia Southern University Police officer Scott Sanford, left, takes the point as they sweep hallways and classrooms of the Newton Building in simulated search for a gunman as local law enforcement teams up for an active shooter training exercise on campus Tuesday.

Bullets flew Tuesday as law enforcement officers took part in a simulated active shooter training exercise in a vacant elementary school building. They were “simunition” instead of real ammunition, and as they struck targets, the waxy rounds left blue or orange marks to show where an actual bullet would have drawn blood. Georgia Southern University and Statesboro Police joined in the exercises Tuesday, along with Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies and agents from the Atlanta FBI to conduct active shooter training that will take place through Thursday.