Weapon that closed University of Akron building was from police training exercise

AKRON, Ohio - The weapon that closed a University of Akron building Thursday night turned out to be a plastic gun, the school said on Friday.

The Polsky Building was evacuated after a female student reported seeing a gun sticking out from a man’s jacket, University of Akron's Police Chief Paul Callahan said. Officers searched the building and gave it the all clear at about 7 p.m.

On Friday, the University of Akron said a recruit from Summit College’s Police Academy was returning from a training exercise and carrying a plastic weapon.

“The student has apologized for the accidental oversight, and the commander of the academy has said he will review with all students the proper protocol for transporting training equipment on campus. The student will not be charged,” the university said in a note to students.

Meanwhile, the University of Akron Police Department applauds the alert student who called police.

“She did everything right," Callahan said. "She noticed something unusual and she called us, and that's what we want. Sometimes people are hesitant to call. Don't be, because often the tips we receive help us make this campus even safer."

Callahan said students should save the department’s phone number, which is 330-972-2911, in their cell phones.