The Campus Security Task Force, which was set up in response to the April 16th mass killings at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia, gets some advice from officials with the Virginia State Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

It was a closed meeting at the request of Virginia and federal law enforcement because of what Missouri Public Safety Director Mark James - a co-chair of the Task Force – calls the sensitive nature of the information regarding the response to the massacre.

James says the panel was provided with some good information that could be helpful in preventing a similar shooting spree. James and Higher Education Commissioner Robert Stein, the other co-chair, say the panel was told of the importance of planning and exercises so that a violent attack similar to the one in Blacksburg might be mitigated.

The Task Force was told that in addition to cooperation among law enforcement officials from various departments, there must be good working relationships between law enforcement and academic officials on campuses throughout the state.

Public hearings of the Task Force are planned for June 7th in St. Louis and June 11th in Kansas City. Plans call for a final report to be presented to Governor Matt Blunt in August.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)