On Tuesday afternoon, around 3:30, Alexis and I were busy with our work in our offices. Suddenly, the distant sound of sirens broke the calm, growing louder as they approached. Siren after siren wailed until they abruptly stopped right outside our building. (story here)
Curious and concerned, Alexis and I looked out the windows of our seventh-floor offices at TWO-FIFTY. Below, Wisconsin Avenue was teeming with police cars and officers. The street was completely shut down, and officers were swiftly exiting their vehicles and running into our building.
Reacting quickly, Alexis locked our office suite door, turned off the lights, and ducked into one of the corner offices. Meanwhile, also tucked away, I called Danielle Schumacher, the building manager, hoping she had some information. Danielle said she was in the process of emailing tenants to inform them that the building was going into lockdown due to a potentially dangerous individual in the parking structure.
Seconds later, we received the lockdown notice. We waited anxiously, watching as more officers arrived and a crowd began to gather. It was a tense and frightening situation. I called my husband, who was in the car with our kids, to let him know what was happening. They were understandably worried.
After about 30 minutes, we noticed the crowd dispersing and the police returning to their cars. The situation seemed to be resolving. We received an official notice from management confirming this.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I left the building to head to my 4:30 meeting. As I walked out, I saw a heightened police presence up the street. The crime scene and the apprehension of the suspect were just one building away. It turned out that a homicide suspect had been fleeing in a stolen vehicle and had entered our parking structure on foot.
Just then, Danielle called me. She verbally confirmed that the situation was clear and asked if we were okay. She also shared what she could from authorities, about what had transpired. I assured her we were all good, and expressed my gratitude for the clear procedures and communication during the incident.
I share this story to highlight the exceptional care and attention given to tenant security downtown. It’s not just about feeling secure, but actually being secure. Working downtown comes with its challenges, often involving precarious and sometimes dangerous situations. However, we strive to protect our tenants and ensure a safe environment. Thank you, Danielle, and everyone who sprang into action this week, including the brave officers. Have a safe weekend, everyone!
Tracy Johnson
Video here: View from TWO-Fifty Seventh Floor Offices