Sergeant Jason Elliott gave Calvert Neighborhood Watch a presentation on dealing with an active shooter.
Prince Frederick, MD – Forty hours after the nation’s deadliest mass shooting incident, members of Calvert County Neighborhood Watch received a presentation on how potential victims should react to an intrusion by an active shooter. The agenda for the Monday, June 13 meeting had been set well before the tragic events in Orlando, FL occurred.
The brief session was conducted by Sgt. Jason Elliott of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Operations Team (SOT). Elliott said SOT has done active shooter response training with Calvert County Government employees.
“You could be anywhere,” Elliott stated, explaining that the recommended procedures are applicable to indoor locations other than offices. “What are you going to do when all goes bad?”
The three options are “run, hide or fight. You need to be prepared for the worst.” A video shown to the group depicted the application of the three options by office workers when a gunman breaches their workplace and begins randomly shooting workers.
Elliott recommended that anyone who spends time in a workplace strategize with coworkers regarding worst-case scenario procedures. “The plan doesn’t have to be complicated,” he said.
If the first option—running—is a possibility, that should be an immediate course of action. “If you can get out, do,” Elliott said. Having an evacuation plan in place could save lives in a dire situation.
For the second option—hiding—potential victims need to be completely out of the shooter’s view. Possibly find a room and if possible, lock the door or block it. Maintain quiet and have the presence of mind to silence your cellphone. A ringing cellphone will tip off a shooter about where you are hiding.
Anyone who chooses the third option—fighting—must respond with as much physical aggression as possible, improvise weapons and make every attempt to incapacitate the shooter.
One audience member asked Elliott if using a fire extinguisher as a weapon—spraying the solution at the eyes of the shooter—would be recommended. Elliott indicated a better option would be to use the fire extinguisher tank as a battering instrument.
Elliott explained that in Calvert County the SOT, while it is a thoroughly trained Special Weapons Attack Team (SWAT), it is not on 24-hour standby. Therefore, deputies from the agency’s Patrol Division are likely to be the initial responders to a shooter incident. He indicated all patrol officers are being trained in handling active shooter response.
Once law enforcement arrives at a shooting scene, Elliott said it was important to “remain calm and follow instructions. Keep hands visible at all times. Avoid pointing and yelling. Do not ask questions when evacuating.”
The sergeant added that the goal of responding law enforcement, “whether realistic or not, is to make sure we’ve eliminated the threat, aided the wounded and investigated the incident.” He cautioned that individuals caught in an active shooter situation could need treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Elliott said SOT members have done demonstrations on dealing with active shooters at county schools with administrators and teachers. Many schools have also practiced “lockdown drills” to prepare responses to a variety of emergencies.
He noted Calvert County has thankfully not experienced an active shooter incident to date but “we prepare ourselves as best we can. But let’s hope it never happens here.”
Any Calvert County organizations interested in scheduling an active shooter presentation should contact the sheriff’s office at 410-535-2800.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com