Shawnee Sports Complex enhances security measures

DUNBAR, W.Va. (WSAZ) – In May, shots were fired near the Shawnee Sports Complex that left lots of people feeling terrified and scared.

Since the incident, Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango reevaluated everything to find way to improve safety at the complex.

“When we know there is a flaw in the system somewhere we are going to come in and try to fix it,” Salango said.

So far, they have installed nine new emergency exit gates which will keep people inside the complex, but no one can come in through them.

“I want people to come there and feel safe and have a good time and want to come back,” Salango said.

The staff participated in stop the bleeding training in order to provide assistance immediately as well as a refresher on the active shooting training.

“So anything we can do make it safer, to make it better, to make people feel safer that they want to leave their kids there, they can play there without looking over their shoulder all the time,” Salango said.

Not only did they install emergency exit gates, but they also reevaluated their entire emergency plan.

Even though they made no significant changes, the new plan is that the staff will have radios to communicate with each other during events.

Salango says they always want to improve the complex in order to protect everyone.

“There is nothing, and I don’t care where you are that is 100 percent secure and we will always learn and I pray to God there is never another incident, but if there is, we will learn from it,” Salango said.

Right now, they are in the process of building a $5 million entrance building and they are hoping to install a intercom system for the entire park to help eliminate panic.

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