FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2018 – 3:05 p.m.
DCTC declared “all-clear” after lockdown situation this afternoon
Today at approximately 1:35 p.m., Dakota County Technical College was placed on lockdown. It was reported that someone may have had a weapon. The campus community was notified via the StarAlert emergency system, which sends calls, emails and texts to all contacts on file for students and staff.
Proper protocols were followed to alert the campus community. The campus community was notified via the StarAlert emergency system, which sends calls, emails and texts to all contacts on file for students and staff.
The campus was notified of the “all-clear” at 2:46 p.m.
Our top priority is the safety of our students, our faculty, and our staff. We are working with law enforcement and will provide updates though the media as they are available. Out of respect for the investigation, we ask that all questions about the incident be directed to law enforcement.
All classes for the day and evening will continue as normal.
This incident did not affect the South of the River Education Center in Burnsville.
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UPDATE
January 18, 2018
DCTC wishes to thank all staff and students for their understanding during last week’s incident. And a big thanks to our local law enforcement for fast, professional response. DCTC is relieved they determined the situation was non-threatening. While this was not an ideal start to the semester, the college is grateful for the supportive campus community.
We know there was confusion in the messages. We have identified needed improvements, and are making corrections.
One way students and staff can help is to make sure contact information is accurate in our emergency alert system. Please visit dctc.edu/staralert to learn more.
The way this event was handled was completely and utterly ridiculous. Your message system was notifying students and or parents that there was a lockdown drill and nothing to worry about, while at the same time your Facebook page was saying the exact opposite. Not sure who came up with the idea of locking people in a classroom and turning off the lights but this is just placing students in a combined location for any “active shooter” to shoot them all in one location. My daughter has been informed not to go into a classroom and to exit the building by any means necessary, this is based on my military back ground and training. If you want students and parents to feel more at ease get your act together.