BANGOR – An announcement made over the Bangor Mall’s loudspeaker instructed tenants to lower their storefront gates and take cover. A few moments later, three Bangor police officers entered the mall through a main entrance door with their guns drawn.

The steps were taken Tuesday as part of a mock active shooter drill that was organized cooperatively with mall managers and operations staff, store tenants and police officials.

“There are certain procedures that we do differently in an active shooter situation than we would in a fire drill or mall evacuation, but the premise is to prepare,” mall manager James Gerety said after the drill. “I feel it went very well.”

The mall was closed for a short time during the drill to members of the public, some of whom take advantage of the indoor facility for their morning walk.

Gerety wanted to assure members of the public that there is no threat and that he has been working to plan the drill for about six months as a precaution.

After the drill, Gerety and Bangor police Lt. Jeff Millard briefed store tenants and received feedback. That information will be compiled, evaluated and used in future drills.

“I think that we have a lot to build on,” Gerety said. “I think we have achieved what we wanted to achieve this morning.”

Millard also said he was pleased with the way the drill proceeded.

“The key is to get in as quick as possible,” Millard said.

Five Bangor officers were involved in the drill, and Millard explained that what action police take depends on what the shooter does. Whether the shooter is actively shooting throughout the mall or a store, taking hostages and barricading himself or fleeing the facility determines what action police will take.

Mall officials invited Bangor police to participate in the drill, and Millard said it was a great training opportunity.

“We’ve always had a good rapport with the mall,” Millard said. “This showed that.”

adolloff@bangordailynews.net

990-8130