The suspicious individual who forced the confinement of the Lionel-Groulx college on Friday was walking near the school with a toy weapon, confirmed the Régie intermunicipale de police Thérèse-De Blainville (RIPTB). A minor, he was met by investigators. A reassuring outcome, but CEGEPs should be better prepared for the worst, believes a union.
The police had been notified early Friday afternoon of the presence of “a possibly armed individual” in the Lionel-Groulx college sector. The latter has been identified and “offers its full cooperation to the investigators”, confirmed the RIPTB on Saturday evening.
It is about a minor resident of Sainte-Thérèse who was walking in the streets on the outskirts of the college with a toy weapon which could be confused with a long weapon.
“The police department reminds that the purchase, transport and handling of a toy that may be similar to a weapon should always be done in a safe manner in public places,” said the RIPTB.
After Montmorency College and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu CEGEP, this was the third confinement of a CEGEP in a week.
“We forgot that it could happen, this kind of situation, and an organization must prepare for the worst,” believes Denis Paquin, president of the Lionel-Groulx college teachers’ union.
Active shooter training was last more than a decade old, according to the union. “There was an update as part of a pedagogical day that goes back a while. But not everyone attended,” says Mr. Paquin. An emergency protocol is also available online, but “it’s hard to find,” he adds.
Consequence: several teachers did not know the meaning of the white code which preceded the alert of a potential active shooter. Such a code is triggered when an individual exhibits aggressive, threatening or violent behavior that could pose risks to their own safety or that of others.
“We used code white, and nobody knew what it was. The directives were misunderstood,” laments Denis Paquin.
Indeed, students and teachers were first instructed to confine themselves or evacuate the building to nearby emergency exits. A few minutes later, the order to barricade themselves inside a room was given.
“There are many students and teaching staff who left the college instead of barricading themselves. There was a communication issue,” says Mr. Paquin.
The police were able to confirm Saturday evening that the individual who triggered the police operation never entered the CEGEP.
In order to better prepare teachers, the union is making two main demands: clear and up-to-date emergency protocols, and training on their application.
It would also be relevant to train teachers on good practices to reassure students during confinement, judge Denis Paquin. “We are in a situation of responsibility. How do we react with students who can panic? “, he raises.
The union, however, welcomes the management of students and teachers on leaving college, in particular with psychosocial services.