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Tom's
Page > Writing > Active Shooter - Chapter 3
| I am also working on my second novel- Active
Shooter. This is an exert from Chapter 3. Please note that these works must be considered only as a 'work in progress'. Most of it is in a raw, unedited form. It contains numerous misspellings, grammatical errors, run-ons, fragments and every other possible error. including personal judgment, opinion and stereotyping. But I've found that when the mood to write strikes me I better get my thoughts down on paper. The editing will also take place here so there will be constant changes. |
"What the hell!" "We getta power surge? "Boy, you got me!" All the phones starting ringing. all the lights were lighting up. All of the 911 operators reached for the buttons. The first call was only a scream. Something odd was going on. As the lines were answered the enhanced 911 system displayed that the only callers were on cell phones. "Jesus, must be a bad one on the interstate" mentioned a control operator. The only logical conclusion being that motorists all saw the same accident. But it wasn’t the rush hour- what the hey. "I got shots fired!" "Where, where at? What did they say?" demanded one of the Control Operators. "No, all I can hear is someone shooting. Shit, it sounds like an automatic weapon!" "Anybody got a land-line?" They needed an address. Where was it going on at? "I got something-central,
and shots fired!" "I got more shots fired- I can hear ‘em!" Where the hell are they at?" "I got a land line. The east side control operator yelled after she picked up the line. The console displaying… Warren Central High School Pay
phone cafeteria A nightmare was beginning. All Marion County Units in Beat eight- Reports of shots fired.Warren Central High school , 9500 east 18th street. I got another land line- shit it’s dead. It’s Warren Central." I can hear them shooting- there's more one gun!" "We got a Columbine?" the other east control operator answered by shaking her head up and down. All Marion County Units- Signal 100 is now in effect. Multiple reports of shots fired Warren Central High School 9500 east 18th street. We’re getting calls from the cafeteria. Multiple shots fired possible automatic weapons fire. Possible active shooters- all units use caution. The shift supervisor moved from his desk and stood behind the control operators. Many years of experience taught her not to ask any question right now. Control 2032, I’m 10-23 at the north entrance of the cafeteria I got people shot here", the school resource officer full of adrenaline screaming into the microphone an inch from his mouth. "I need an ambulance! I need help!" The Fire and EMS dispatchers saw the same phone lines. Normally they would ask for a safe spot for their people to go but kids were getting shot and adrenaline overrode reason. Nobody though about safety. The radio traffic was going to hell. Everybody was yelling on the radio now. The Senior shift supervisor saw it happening. Chaos was taking over Communications. The dispatchers and control operators were overwhelmed and panicking. "Define me me a talk group- now! I’m taking it". The operator close to hyperventilating set the commands. The radio/communications system was a masterpiece of engineering and technology with the most up to date equipment available. But no body had yet fired out how any more than one person could talk at one time. It had to done now. Dick gates was was known as the
guy to have in place. All situation radio traffic does through me. God we need somebody on the scene who knows what the fuck they’re doing!’ Gates started issuing orders. Send the world. Department page one- get swat, tact and K-9,then law enforcement, reserves and then department wide. law enforcement . Get the admin people and have them call second shift in right now. "Car 3 to Control what do we
have?" The department's Executive Officer loved to listen to his walkie-talkie while
sitting at his desk. He developed an unfortunate tendency to hit in during the middle of
something big instead of having the common sense to listen. |
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