Campus takes Precautions

Sheri s and Administration put college on lockdown due to potential threat

Conflicting emergency notifications caused confusion for the Pierce College community because of a potential threat the morning of September 17.

The campus community received an email at approximately 11:45 a.m. stating that the LAPD was searching for a suspect believed to be armed and dangerous who may have driven into campus. Within minutes another notification in the form of a text was sent out informing the community of an immediate evacuation taking place. Minutes later an email, stating that the college was to be on lockdown until further notice due to “current police activity”, spurred confusion among those currently at Pierce.

“It was an adequate response.

I asked for only certain units to come. It was appropriate for the information I had. If you put back on information and you judge wrong, it’d be a bad day,” Deputy Guerrero said.

As a result of the conflicting messages, students evacuated the campus or did not attend class at all.

Some students and faculty received a message at around 12:23 p.m. notifying them that the lockdown was lifted and the campus was safe. Other students, who received the previous warning messages, did not receive that message.

Administration received phone calls throughout the evening from uninformed, concerned persons