Four County Career Center and the Henry County Sheriff’s Department are working together to put in place a new active shooter response program for the Career Center. Staff members have received training in the national acclaimed program called A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). This program takes a real look into an active shooter situation and teaches staff and students what tactical advantages they have if a situation might occur that could keep them alive. The program is divided into five steps and every step is important.
During their training, staff were given several scenarios in which they role played with the assistance of Career Center Law Enforcement & Security Tactics instructor, Kevin Thomas (SECOND LEFT) and Henry County Deputy Vincent Fisher (FAR RIGHT) as the “active shooters.” After each scenario the staff had time to discuss the responses that worked and those that could be improved upon with Henry County Sergeant Shawn Wymer (SECOND RIGHT). This also gave the school the opportunity to see where other instances of communication during an active shooter situation could be improved. Jason Blue, Social Studies instructor, (FAR LEFT) is shown during one of those discussions.
The A.L.I.C.E. program shows multiple steps where evacuating and getting away from the situation as fast as possible is very important. Four County Career Center and the Henry County Sheriff’s Department are not teaching staff and students fighting techniques. They are teaching survival strategies that will save lives in the event of an active shooter situation. No part of this program should be taken out of context and portray it as something that would put staff and students at risk unnecessarily.
“The safety of the students and staff is our only concern and we believe this program provides the best chance at staying alive in an active shooter situation,” said the Director of Career and Technical Education, Rick Bachman.
PHOTO BY: JANET KNIERIM
