THOMASVILLE- Thursday afternoon, the Thomasville Police Department, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, Thomas County EMS, Thomasville Fire Rescue, and Thomas County Fire Rescue came together to partake in an ALERRT Active Shooter Training at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School.
TPD and TCSO also participated in these exercises last year. However, last year’s focus was shooting and moving, threshold evaluation, and concepts and principles of team movement. This year was designed to focus on the event as a whole and how multiple agencies must come together to ensure the safety of all students.
“Last year we found the threat and eliminated the threat and began recovery,” said TCSO Captain Tim Watkins. “This year is more about the recovery, command set up, medical and fire portion.”
Watkins explained everyone was integrated into this year’s exercise, which was a first for the Thomas County region.
“From the first planning session we had for this type of training, we knew we wanted to incorporate all the emergency services agencies into the scenario so we can learn how each other works and learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said EMA Director Chris Jones.
To work on the integration of all units, classroom sessions were held for two days. The first day was practical exercises, while the second day was the scenario they had to respond to.
The scenario involved a male entering Garrison-Pilcher Primary and opening fire, while also setting off the fire alarm, and throwing out smoke bombs. The school resource officer was the first to respond to the scene. However, he is quickly fired at, fatally injuring him. An all-call was then sent out for all units to respond to Garrison-Pilcher.
Officers were tasked with breaching the gate entrance, finding unlocked doors to get through, and locating the suspect, despite the haze of smoke and injuries.
EMS and fire rescue then responded, waiting for officers to escort them inside so they could tend to the wounded.
Officers, EMS, and fire personnel had no idea what to expect walking into the scenario, so they were surprised to find real children with dramatic makeup to create a realistic situation.
EMS was also responsible for transporting the wounded, using real stretchers to help get out the injured children and tarps inside the school for the fatalities.
Having everyone together in both the classroom and real-world setting helped gain valuable insight.
“We’re gaining the knowledge that we have to work with the local fire department and EMS and have them all involved,” said TPD’s Sgt. Scott Newberry. “They aren’t going to rush in there because there’s an active shooter, so it’s teaching our people we have to slow down and escort them in and out of the building and be sure they’re safe.”
Newberry explained without keeping EMS safe, they are unable to keep other children and officers who may have been injured safe.
Jones echoed Newberry’s statements, saying he has found each agency works well independently, but together they are even stronger.
Newberry said they consider this first run through a “hot wash,” where they assess how everyone did, before giving feedback about small things that could’ve been completed more efficiently.
“Overall, they are doing exactly what we taught them to do,” he said.
The training will continue next week with second and third shifts, who were unable to attend this week’s training. In total, approximately 90 individuals will respond in each staged incident.
Following the conclusion of both trainings, Jones said they will re-evaluate if any changes need to be made in the event of a real school shooting.