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Several Vidalia Police Department vehicles parked in front of Vidalia High School on Friday morning for an active shooter training drill. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Lt. Jack Fletcher and Roger 'Chip' McDonald of the Vidalia Police Department participate in a Friday morning active shooter drill at Vidalia High School. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Sgt. Roger 'Chip' McDonald, officer T.J. Cross and Lt. Jack Fletcher participate in an active shooter training drill Friday morning at Vidalia High School. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Sgt. Roger 'Chip' McDonald aims his rifle into a classroom before entering during an active shooter drill Friday morning at Vidalia High School. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Officer T.J. Cross and Lt. Fletcher participate in an active shooter training drill Friday morning at Vidalia High School. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Vidalia Police officer T.J. Cross, Sgt. Roger 'Chip' McDonald and Lt. Jack Fletcher make their way along a hallway at Vidalia High School on Friday morning in an active shooter training drill. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Vidalia Police Department Lt. Jack Fletcher talks to Police Chief Joey Merrill before an active shooter training drill at Vidalia High School on Friday morning. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

Vidalia Police Chief Joey Merrill, Lt. Jack Fletcher, Lt. Clint Robinson and Vidalia High School Principal Bernie Cooley discuss an active shooter training drill at the high school on Friday morning. (Scott Hawkins, The Natchez Democrat)

VIDALIA — Anyone who saw law enforcement vehicles outside of Vidalia High School Friday morning shouldn’t worry — It was only a drill.

Lt. Clint Robinson, head of Vidalia Police Department’s Special Response Team, said the department likes to conduct such drills before school starts to get a lay of the land and to practice skills necessary in case of an emergency at the schools.

Vidalia Police Chief Joey Merrill said officers could never have enough training for such emergencies.

“We are training as much as we can,” Merrill said. “It is the kind of training you have to do, but you hope you never have to use.”

Participating in Friday’s drill were Robinson, Lt. Jack Fletcher, Sgt. Roger “Chip” McDonald, officer T.J. Cross, K-9 Officer Dusty LeMoine and Assistant Police Chief Dennis Cowan.

Robinson said Vidalia Police officers keep an active presence in Vidalia’s schools throughout the school year, which starts Aug. 9, to let students know the police force is available to protect them.

The drill began at 10 a.m. Friday and lasted until approximately 1 p.m., said Concordia Parish School Board Superintendent Whest Shirley.

During the drill, officers from the Vidalia Police Department helped replicate an active shooter scenario to prepare staff for the upcoming school year.

“It’s just a routine thing that we do,” Shirley said. “I’ve texted everyone I know to let them know what we’re doing so as not to raise any alarms when police cars are parked outside.”

Merrill said he appreciates Shirley, members of the school board and Vidalia High School Principal Bernie Cooley and school faculty and staff for letting the department utilize the school Friday for the drill.

The drill, Shirley said, was one of two precautionary measures the district used to defend itself from both physical and cyber threats this school year.

After hearing reports of cyber attacks and ransom ware — a form of attack where hackers hold digital files hostage until monetary payment is made — from other school districts in the state, Shirley said phones and internet were temporarily shut down Friday so that firewalls and other hardware and software systems could be updated.

“I know Morehouse Parish and Monroe city were hit hard,” Shirley said. “… It’s a serious issue, and so far, we’re good. We’re shutting everything down temporarily to make sure all of our firewalls are up and working and that we’re protected.”

Natchez Democrat editor Scott Hawkins contributed to this report.

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