Cerro Coso College recently experienced its first campus-wide lockdown.
On April 10 at Cerro Coso College, which is part of the Kern Community College District, a campus security officer observed a man walking near the college’s library carrying an object that appeared to be a rifle, according to Joann Handeland, director of information, development and alumni relations.
The man was hailed by the security officers but dashed away. The Ridgecrest Police Department was notified of the situation, and students were ordered to leave all buildings as police locked down the entire campus. Students complied with orders in a prompt fashion, according to Handeland.
“I am very proud of how the college staff and students responded to this situation,” stated Mary Retterer, president of Cerro Coso College.
Cerro Coso has never experienced a complete campus lockdown before, according to Handeland
Cerro Coso College’s staff and administration have been working in conjunction with Ridgecrest police on Critical Incident Management training and planning, Handeland said.
Cerro Coso follows the procedures of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in State Emergency (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Also on April 10, a similar but unrelated incident occurred at Porterville College. The college received a telephone call from an individual who threatened to fire a gun in the college’s cafeteria.
According to an issued report, Porterville police were alerted and worked with the college’s security and crisis response team to clear and lockdown the entire premises. Porterville police examined the situation and soon found that the call came in from Las Vegas, and they determined it to be a hoax. Nevertheless, officers remained on standby around the college.
Porterville College also follows the dictates of SEMS and NIMS.