FULTON - Police defused a hostage situation at Itawamba Community College on Friday, and although it was only a disaster drill, their efforts earned them a top grade.

The simulated hostage situation was staged at the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center on ICC's Fulton campus.

All manner of local law enforcement - the Fulton police and fire departments, Itawamba County Sheriff's Department, campus police, North Mississippi Medical Services, Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks - descended on the campus about 2 p.m. Friday, blocking off traffic, setting up perimeters and treating the school as if it were under an hostile attack.

The event was monitored by representatives with the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security, who gave the overall performance an "A" rating.

"The whole purpose today was to test the procedure we had in place," said ICC President Dr. David Cole. "While we made an 'A' from Homeland Security, the college will now make the minor adjustments that are needed for the plan to function at maximum efficiency."

During the simulation, police sent both a SWAT team and police negotiator into the school's Fine Arts Auditorium to handle the "hostile intruder," who was arrested and taken into the custody of campus police within 30 minutes.

The simulation also required law enforcement and medical personnel to treat a wounded hostage, who had to be carried out of the building and taken away in an ambulance.

The drill, initiated and planned by ICC Campus Police Chief Ricky Brasel, culmination a year-long effort to establish a new emergency operations plan.

Buddy Collins, vice president of student services, was instrumental in the formation of the 800-page plan, which includes procedures for handling numerous disaster scenarios.

Adam Armour can be reached at (662) 862-3141, adam.armour@itawamba360.com or by visiting his blog at itawamba360.com.