Hudsonville city staff are being trained to call police if someone open-carrying a gun enters a public building.

HUDSONVILLE, MI – Call the police if someone open-carries a gun into a public building: That's the advice the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office is giving to Hudsonville city staff during trainings this month.

“It’s just to be on the safe side and to observe the person,” said Sgt. Mike Bagladi, who heads the sheriff’s Hudsonville unit. “Will we in any way threaten or intimidate them? Absolutely not. They have the right to carry in a public place.

“Nevertheless, we have to be careful and err on the side of safety and caution. It’s a hard call.”

The training of staff at Hudsonville’s Gary Byker Memorial Library last week was arranged to make public employees aware that it’s legal to open-carry a holstered gun in most public buildings, but it’s illegal to “brandish” or flaunt a firearm. Staff also were taught how to react when someone open-carries into a building because “it’s something that’s coming out more and more,” Bagladi said.

In a memo to the City Commission, City Manager Patrick Waterman wrote that “the likelihood of this happening is high given that many 2nd Amendment promoters are currently ‘testing the waters’ in many public buildings, looking for an opportunity to file a lawsuit.” For example, Grand Rapids Police are being sued for how they responded to a caller’s concern about a man who legally open-carried on the street while talking and singing to himself.

Other city staff are scheduled for training next week.

"What they told us is that most of these people that are walking in are looking for a reaction and if we harass them in any way they can go ahead and slap a lawsuit," Waterman said. The sheriff's office instructed city staff to treat armed visitors normally, then discreetly call police so a deputy can evaluate whether the visitor poses any risk, he said.



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Hudsonville also is exploring response plans for city staff in the event a shooter opens fire in a public building. The city plans to work with an architect on possible building modifications that could enhance safety, Waterman said.

“It’s one of those things you hope it never happens but if it does you want to be prepared,” he said. “Every time these (shootings) happen, people say ‘We never thought it could happen here.’”

Matt Vande Bunte covers government for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at mvandebu@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.