SWAT team to conduct exercise in VU Friday

The Bellingham Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team will conduct a training exercise in the Viking Union on the Western Washington University campus beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.

The BPD SWAT includes members from the University Police Department, and those team members will be present and participating in this training exercise.

Viking Union staff will close the building and see that all occupants are out by about 5:15 p.m. Friday. The SWAT members will conduct another thorough search of the building at 5:30 to be certain that all persons not involved in the training are cleared from the building. There will be signage and postings around the building to indicate that a “POLICE TRAINING EXERCISE” is ongoing. Spectators are not allowed, and persons are encouraged to stay clear of the area during the training exercise. All training activities will be confined to the interior of the VU, the loading dock and the Outdoor Recreation Center.

For more information, contact UPD Chief Randy Stegmeier at 360-650-3999 or UPD Assistant Chief Darin Rasmussen at 360-650-3684.