CLEARFIELD – The Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors approved an active shooter training scenario for its police department at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Prior to approval, Interim Police Chief Mark Brooks sought permission for the Lawrence Township police’s participation in a training scenario by the Deputy Director Scott Mignot of Clearfield County Emergency Management. He said it would be active shooter training with the Clearfield Area School District and the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center.
He said it would need to be coordinated between emergency responders as well as law enforcement so that they could all participate in a mock active shooter scenario. He compared the training scenario to be one similar to the tragedy at Columbine High School in Colorado in April of 1999.
“Because we have unfortunately all seen the tragedy that comes from that, we have training in place,” Brooks said. “We’ve taken it upon ourselves to continue that training.”
Brooks said he would like to see at least four police officers who are trained for the active shooter program to attend.
“We have all these officers that dedicate their time on a volunteer basis. They participate in such situations, so it is nice that we can get them all together for events like this,” Brooks said.
“Because then I know who a point man is. I know who a utility is going to be. I know who is going to be taking a lead, or I know who is going to be working from a command post situation and coordinating resources.
“I know who is going to be keeping the media at a safe distance to protect them from any harm and keeping the parents that may respond to an event at a school. Obviously, there will be a certain level of hysteria with them trying to get to their loved one. All of these things, we hopefully never have to use.”
Supervisor Chairman Glenn Johnston pointed out that while most of the schools are located in Lawrence Township, the board carries the burden of school protection.
Supervisor Edward Brown believed the training is in-line with all the courses that the supervisors participate in for incident management. He said it is right in-line with emergency response training.
Johnston and Brown approved the police department’s participation in training as its manpower permits. Supervisor William Lawhead was absent from the meeting.