Preventing college shootings
"Active shooter" training prepares law enforcement to respond to dangers
Reginald James
Issue date: 5/22/08 Last update: 5/22/08 at 7:06 PM PST
Section: Sports
Peralta Police Deputies, Alameda Police Department (APD), and the Alameda County Sheriffs Office's (ASCO) Special Response Unites participated in an "active shooter" training on May 16 at COA. The "Simunitions training was designed to prepare safety officers to respond to a shooting on campus, similar to last year's Virginia Tech Massacre.
Officers got an overview of "active shooter" vocabulary, deployment formations and strategies to take down a gunmen attempting to people on campus.
Although the purpose of the training was to train officers how to respond, the overriding concern of the day was safety. Eleven officers have been killed during training exercises.
"All of us are brain damaged by thousands of hours of television, media and video games," said ACSO deputy Derek Pope who gave an overview of the day's program.
Officers were outfitted with vests, masks and pellet-gun type weapons which shot colorful "simunitions."
"We want you to get shot, get hurt, get bruised and go home," added Pope.
"Active shooters are one or more subjects who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others," said SRU Sgt. Duane Montes.
Active shooters are "there to shoot, there to kill," said Montes. "Most suspects don't have an escape plan. 90% of suspects commit suicide within 30 minutes."
"They're not looking for a gunfight, they're looking for a body count," added Montes.
Following the presentation, the officers went outside to learn strategic formations for deployment.
Officers learned presentations for both the "hunt" for active shooters and for "rescue" of hostages.
"While gunshots are bad for victims, it is good for us because it helps us fin the shooter," said Montes. "When shooting stops, we enter into hunting mode."
Montes emphasize that when there is an active shooter on campus that officers' "sole mission in life is to stop the active shooter."
Officers got an overview of "active shooter" vocabulary, deployment formations and strategies to take down a gunmen attempting to people on campus.
Although the purpose of the training was to train officers how to respond, the overriding concern of the day was safety. Eleven officers have been killed during training exercises.
"All of us are brain damaged by thousands of hours of television, media and video games," said ACSO deputy Derek Pope who gave an overview of the day's program.
Officers were outfitted with vests, masks and pellet-gun type weapons which shot colorful "simunitions."
"We want you to get shot, get hurt, get bruised and go home," added Pope.
"Active shooters are one or more subjects who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others," said SRU Sgt. Duane Montes.
Active shooters are "there to shoot, there to kill," said Montes. "Most suspects don't have an escape plan. 90% of suspects commit suicide within 30 minutes."
"They're not looking for a gunfight, they're looking for a body count," added Montes.
Following the presentation, the officers went outside to learn strategic formations for deployment.
Officers learned presentations for both the "hunt" for active shooters and for "rescue" of hostages.
"While gunshots are bad for victims, it is good for us because it helps us fin the shooter," said Montes. "When shooting stops, we enter into hunting mode."
Montes emphasize that when there is an active shooter on campus that officers' "sole mission in life is to stop the active shooter."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jean Womack
posted 5/27/08 @ 1:33 PM PST
Sounds like the semester is over and they don't want people hanging around on campus, just because they think it is a safe comfortable place. That's a heck of a way to get people to give up and go away for the summer break. (Continued…)
Jean Womack
posted 5/27/08 @ 4:02 PM PST
Hi again Reggie,
Where is Detox in Oakland? Maybe you should go to Detox. That's what we do here in Richmond when we get hit. I think we are supposed to wash our clothing also, because it gets on the clothes. (Continued…)
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