School shooter drills are unfortunately common in the United States.


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When I was growing up, I remember an awkward day every year in which they would announce a school shooter drill, we’d all have to hide, and then our vice principal would walk around the school with his fingers pointed like a gun, yelling “Bang!” at everyone who was still visible. They would also use this time to bring in drug-sniffing dogs and search people’s lockers. Trust me, it was great!


However, drills like these are apparently not enough for schools these days. In order to drive the point home that a student could be killed in the middle of math class, police officers have decided to spring school shooter drills on students — without telling them first.



According to Seven Days Vermont, “While teaching a class to high school students on Wednesday, Burlington police officers staged a surprise demonstration in which a masked gunman burst into the room and pretended to open fire.”


Allegedly, this was supposed to show the unreliability of witness statements. Can’t imagine how, but that was the apparent point.


What it really showed, however, was a) how unaware police are of the consequences of their actions; and b) how to make a group of students shit themselves at the same time.



“Two students who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the class was facing the front of the room listening to a detective speak when they heard screams from behind them,” write Courtney Lamdin and Colin Flanders. “Two women ran in, the students said, followed by a man wearing a ski mask who was holding a gun. Then gunshot sounds rang out.”


Per the piece, the school was made aware in rough terms what was planned to happen and agreed to it. The students, however, were not — leaving them understandably pissed off once they realized this was all a drill.




The police eventually sent an apology, which, of course, contained a typo because, let’s be honest. “The roll-playing [sic] scenario only involved three department personnel simulating a robbery scenario and was not directed at any students or faculty,” the statement said.


At least they were honest about what they did this time around.