GSU police chief urges vigilance following Michigan State campus shooting

ATLANTA — Following a shooting rampage that left three students dead, and five others critically wounded on the campus of Michigan State University, the chief of the Georgia State University police department is urging students and staff to remain calm but vigilant.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan spoke with the police chief and students who say the shooting in Michigan is weighing on them.

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“First of all, it’s unfortunate and our thoughts are always going to be with the families of the victims at Michigan State. Like we always tell our students, there’s 50,000 students here. That’s a hundred thousand eyes, so we like our students to get involved and report anything they see that’s suspicious on our campus,” said GSU Police Chief Anthony Coleman.

Coleman says his agency does frequent active shooting training in conjunction with Atlanta Police, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia State Patrol.

“We always work together in these situations. We train together. Fortunately, when these things happen, we are able to do a quick response and eliminate whatever we have to eliminate quickly,” said Coleman.

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GSU police is the largest campus police agency in Georgia, and one of the largest in the country. That helps provide a strong police presence and deterrent.

“We are in a confined area in downtown Atlanta. One of our biggest goals is to have police visibility on our campus. That is our goal and we do that,” said Coleman.

Many students are speaking about the Michigan State shootings and their concerns over safety.

“I think that’s awful. I think it’s sad, people dying at school,” said GSU student Kanisha Mayberry.

Another student says he will be a little more on guard.

“Tragic, tragic. It makes you wonder and it makes you look around a little more. Cautiously, right and left,” said GSU student Alexander Bryant.

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GSU has about 170 officers at its campuses. More than 100 serve at the largest campus in downtown Atlanta.

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