Rock Island County deputies are drilling for a new kind of disaster -- a gunman who opens fire on a bus.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2016, deputies with the Rock Island County Emergency Services Team conducted an active shooter drill on board a MetroLINK bus. Deputies say the potential for this kind of attack is real, and they want to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
"Obviously times are changing, and you know, anything's a possibility, so we want to be prepared," said Lt. Matthew DeSmyter, EST commander.
During the exercise, a fake gunman boards the bus, taking the driver and passengers hostage.
Nearly 10,000 people ride MetroLINK buses everyday.
"When you think about the number of people we carry on a daily basis, we really want to ensure the highest safety, not only for our employees, but our passengers and the community," said Jennifer Garrity, manager of administration for MetroLINK.
DeSmyter says these drills are a great chance to simulate real-life scenarios.
For raw video of the active shooter exercise, click below.
