Seal Beach Police To Hold Training At McGaugh Elementary School

SEAL BEACH, CA — Residents near McGaugh Elementary School may hear gunfire, screaming and sirens from the campus on April 19, but they shouldn't be alarmed.

Those alarming sounds will be part of an active shooter training exercise the Seal Beach Police Department will hold at the school that day, Lt. Nick Nicholas said.

The exercise will include emergency vehicles responding to the campus and alerts announced on an amplified voice system, Nicholas said.

"While we hate to think of the worst happening at our school, we understand that critical events can happen anywhere," Police Chief Philip Gonshak said. "This exercise will reinforce the training our officers receive and help to ensure that our response to McGaugh is quick and effective."

The training exercise will happen during the school's spring break, and no students will be on campus, Nicholas said.