Yulee, Fla. – All patrol deputies from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office are attending ‘Active Shooter Training’ at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Training Facility conducted by Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team members of JSO. Nassau County deputies are undergoing this special training so they can better respond to shootings. The training is part of the Nassau Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing efforts to prepare and train for events involving active shooter incidents at schools or other locations.
The training includes classroom instruction and live action scenario based exercises. “Even though we hope that we will never have to face this type of violence, it is important that our officers are properly trained and prepared for these types of scenarios.” said Sheriff Bill Leeper.
Active Shooter training is a critical skill that police officers have to learn in the face of a new threat of violence. From the Columbine High School shootings in 1999 to more recent incidents at Virginia Tech and other schools like Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, this is much needed preparation training. “Anytime we see an incident occur like these around the country, it’s a good reminder for us that we need to be prepared every day,” said Leeper.
In the real life scenario deputies surround a training facility building and enter through the door with guns drawn. The exercise is a high-intensity drill in which a suspected shooter must be apprehended and the building must be cleared.
Entering a building during an active shooting incident requires specialized skills that include sweeping and clearing rooms rapidly. It also includes techniques for saving, securing and extracting victims from these critical scenes.
