Escaped inmate apprehended; school’s lockdown procedure put to test
Published 12:26 pm Monday, February 8, 2016
SUQUAMISH — Two weeks ago, West Sound Academy students and staff members practiced going into lockdown.
“It was our first time testing out our lockdown procedure,” librarian Susan Trower said. “There were a few blips. We need to make sure we are doing it right. Because, as in this case, we don’t have a lot of time to think.”
Feb. 8, they put that lockdown procedure to a real test.
An inmate reportedly escaped from a Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department road crew on Totten Road about 10 a.m. Feb. 8. As a precaution, West Sound Academy and Northwest College of Art and Design was notified and went into lockdown — Kitsap Transit was also notified “to be aware” that an escaped inmate was loose in the area — as law enforcement officers tracked the suspect through nearby woods.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended nearby, on the 16600 block of Highway 305 near Seminole Road, at 11:50 a.m.
Some West Sound Academy students were outside when the school was notified that an inmate had escaped. Head of School Barrie Hillman notified the teacher, who led students back inside and all exterior doors were locked, librarian Susan Trower said. The school went into “soft lockdown.”
“Soft lockdown is when the students are in their classrooms but they are able to proceed with class,” Trower said. Students in classrooms with only exterior access to restrooms were escorted to rooms with interior restroom access.
“We were able to get everybody squared away in about five minutes,” Trower said.
Students and staff members could hear the police helicopter flying overhead. As the lunch period neared, “We were preparing to escort all of the students to their home rooms and not let anyone go [outside] for lunch,” Trower said. Then, the school was notified that the inmate had been apprehended.
“We had already had a [lockdown] plan and I think we did really well,” Trower said. The only downside? “The burgers got lukewarmish,” she said.
