The U.S. Transportation Security Administration and the National Tactical Officers Association simulated a school bus hijacking incident for attendees of the 55th National School Transportation Association Annual Conference & Convention, held on July 22, 2019 in Austin, Texas.
Curt Macysyn, who was named the new NSTA executive director earlier this month, told School Transportation News that the training on Monday morning depicted potential tactical maneuvers that student transporters should be aware of if a school bus should ever be in jeopardy.
“NSTA members who participated in the simulation were able to learn the warning signs of an impending attack, as well as counter maneuvers that can repel an attack on a school bus,” Macysyn explained. “In addition, participants now have a keen awareness of the dynamics of a hijacking, as well as effective counter-measures to keep children out of harm’s way.”
Macysyn said Monday’s NSTA training did not include specific types of responses by law enforcement.
The STN EXPO Reno in 2014 held a similar event with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. That training depicted how law enforcement may respond to a common incident, such as a parent attempting to board the bus to confront the driver or another student, all the way up to an armed hijacking.
View photos from Monday’s NSTA event:
Photos by Tony Corpin.
