Gunfire echoes through the halls at a school. Staff and students scream, running for cover. Terror in the hallways, hysteria outside, with parents desperate to see if their children are safe.

While participating in mock lockdown scenarios annually with schools across Niagara, the Niagara Regional Police Service is taking its emergency preparedness in schools to the next level. Project SPEAR (School Police Emergency Action Response), is a computer database and emergency preparedness plan that will provide information on more than 200 Niagara schools to front-line officers and specialized units in the case of an emergency. The project, currently in development, could be up and running by September.

Sgt. Deb Beaulieu, a member of the SPEAR committee, says the idea developed three years ago after hearing of a similar program in Peel Region. Since that time, the committee has taken the overall concept and turned it into a "Made in Niagara" plan with the help of various specialists on the service, as well as representatives from area school boards.

"It's something that you can apply not just in a worst-case scenario, but in chemical spills, bomb threats, suspicious person reports or anything," said Beaulieu. "With this it will allow us to be a bit more proactive and prepared in an unpredictable situation rather than responsive. It's something you obviously don't want to have to use, but it's there if we need it."

For months a team of officers and civilians has been assembling information from more than 200 schools in Niagara, including private schools, District School Board of Niagara schools and Niagara Catholic District School Board schools. The information is being used to assemble a detailed profile on each school, complete with technical data, floor plans and aerial photos.

"All the information will be at the fingertips of a first-responder," said Beaulieu, noting it will be a program on the officer's computer. "They'll have all of the specifics they need for that school."

The data on the program is detailed, from access and escape routes, to staging areas for everyone from emergency services to the media to parents. It's right down to technical information on the schools, such as wall heights and building materials, to allow units such as the Emergency Task Unit to stage their operations.

"There's lots of spinoff benefits of the project," said Beaulieu, noting it eventually could be utilized by other emergency services, such as local fire departments.

While schools have recently started to develop lockdown procedures and work alongside the police department, this is an important additional resource, says Sgt. Matthew Richardson, of the NRP's Emergency Task Unit.

"What we haven't thought about before, was what do we do next?" Richardson observed. "This will help us develop that response in a fashion that will help from the stage of the first responder to supervisors to information for a unit like ours."

The key, said Richardson, is the ease of retrieving the information.

"It's quick to get and easily accessible," he said, noting the information can even be printed out if need be. "You can just pull it up and it will be a real benefit."

Acting Det. Christine McIntyre, a Youth Crime Co-ordinator for Peel Regional Police, says the SPEAR database there has been utilized regularly, both operationally and investigative, and has been successful.

"Three weeks after its initial deployment in 2004, SPEAR was used to manage a critical incident at a high school in Brampton and it quickly proved to be an efficient and effective tool which greatly enhanced our response," said McIntyre. "SPEAR contains a wealth of site specific information which is immediately available to front line, tactical and investigative support units."

The local schools, said Beaulieu, were fully co-operative and on board with the idea. It will be their responsibility to ensure the data is up to date and accurate each year, she said, also adding the NRP will be looking to bring in further private educational institutions, as well as Brock University and Niagara College, in future phases of the program.

"The great thing is everyone has jumped on board and has really stepped up to make this happen," said Richardson.

That's been key for the success of the project, said Beaulieu, noting the magnitude of the project has meant "extensive resources - personnel and funds wise" have been dedicated to making it happen.

Niagara Regional Police Chief Wendy Southall, during a Niagara Regional Police Services Board meeting in June, recognized that importance of Project SPEAR.

"I believe this to be a very valuable project with respect to our schools and something proactive to recognize the reality we live in day to day," said Southall.

Beaulieu said once the programming for Project SPEAR is complete, officers will be trained how to use the program under an "aggressive training cycle".

"We'd like to see it available and ready to use this fall," she said.