Chief Cliff Couch along with officers of the Great Bend Police Department participated in active shooter training, Thursday at Great Bend High School.
“This training is very important to the officers because this is the closest we can get to a real-world scenario like this,” Sgt. Jason Settle said. “The tactics and training are invaluable to officers. They can use this training even with the everyday encounters they may face.
“Our volunteers today are from Dispatch and this training is important to them as well,” Settle continued. “They get to see what the officers do and listen to the communications from the officers.”
The day started with a presentation on how to enter rooms and search for the active shooter, and what to do if an officer comes across a victim. The officers reviewed different types of entry points they might encounter, and how to stay safe as they make their way down hallways, staircases and locked rooms.
“We go over tactics before we start and we try to build on this training every year to make it as real as possible,” Settle said.
After the presentation, officers and volunteers got into position to start the simulation. The volunteers played victims and were placed throughout the school is key locations. One volunteer played the active shooter. In this case, she had shot herself before police arrived.
“Statistics show that in an event like this, by the time officers arrive on scene the shooter has already taken their life. They realize that the police are here and there is no where for them to go,” Settle said. “But as we approach the building we do not know this, so we go in prepared to encounter the active shooter.”
The GBPD holds this training every year, Couch said.
“We really like to add more to this training every year,” he said. “We are hoping to get the Great Bend Fire Department along with EMS involved in the future.”