Portia Williams | Daily Times
Brandon Cruz, of Direct Approach Tactical Solutions, LLC. speaking to participants of the Active Shooter Response training session on Saturday.
Portia Williams
PDT Staff Writer
Twenty-five people participated in an Active Shooter Response training session Saturday.
Brandon Cruz and Mike Kemmer of Direct Approach Tactical Solutions facilitated the training which encompassed two all-day sessions Saturday and Sunday at Valley High School.
The class included faculty and administrators from local school districts, as well as members of local law enforcement.
Cruz said the training session participants are provided with information for emergencies which occur in a working environment.
“It empowers them, it gives them options for survival. It allows to either evacuate, and enhance the lockdown forces that they already have set in place. It also gives them the option, as a last resort to stop the assailant and to stop the actual attack from occurring,” Cruz said.
Some of the information covered during the trainings included an introduction to Active Shooter Response - flight, hide, fight, notification and alert concepts, evacuate - mass evacuations and security locations, age considerations and appropriate actions, understanding law enforcement response to an active shooter, lockdown procedures practical exercise.
Role-playing was required for some segments of the training, in which participants were actively engaged.
Doug Poage, Principal of Portsmouth High School attended the sessions, and said it was extremely beneficial.
“I think this training is a worthwhile experience and I feel fortunate we have been given the opportunity. I think it will serve to greatly enhance all programs currently in place. As we have learned, in times of crisis, our training takes over and guides our actions.
Poage also said everyone needs to be prepared and that trainings such the one taking place at Valley High Saturday and Sunday are great sources of information and practices.
The Active Shooter Response training classes concluded Sunday, and each participant was given a certificate of participation in each session.
Portia Williams may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 286 or portiawillams@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Portia on Twitter @ PortiaWillPDT.
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