Police SWAT teams train in empty school

WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) - As President Obama announced his gun control plans and proposals in the wake of the Newtown massacre, police are training in Grand Rapids to deal with a mass school shooting and hostage situation.

Four times each year, the Michigan State Police SWAT team trains in different cities for different scenarios. This week, they teamed up with the Grand Rapids Police Special Response Team to train on a school shooting sitution where hostages are inside the school.

They conducted the exercise at the former Fairview Elementary School along West River Drive in Walker.

"This is a bit different from those situations in a school where you have an active shooter, and you have to get in and take care of business right now," MSP Lt. Chris McIntire told 24 Hour News 8. "This is more of a controlled situation where this person has taken some hostages inside the building and we're going in an treating it a bit differently than an active shooting."

A quick and coordinated response to any school shooting scenario is critical, police say, in light of recent events in Newtown.

And while they admit there's no perfect plan, police say training like this keeps them sharp and ready.

"It's very relevant for us," McIntire said. "We train all the time with our team, and to be able to come together with another team and do this is pretty critical for us."

McIntire deflected questions about the gun control proposals. Regardless of what happens, he said, these teams need to stay prepared.

The training continues through the week.