PCMS serves as training course for law enforcement - Southwest Times
By PATRICK FORD
Pulaski County Middle School (PCMS) served as the location of a training course for local law enforcement on the last day of spring break with officers from Pulaski and Dublin, Pulaski County sheriffs, state troopers, and county emergency services staff.
Major Franklin “Randy” Ferrell, director of the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy, led the training. The day consisted of multi-jurisdictional active shooter type training, with participants from emergency medical services, fire rescue, deputies and troopers. “This is not SWAT training, tact training. This is the officer, the deputy, or the trooper who answered the radio call,” said Ferrell.
Ferrell holds similar training courses across the country, focusing on the roles of the first responders.
“We are looking at engaging the shooters; priority one, stop the leak. Then we focus on rendering rescue and evacuating the students out of here, on the bus to a location where they can meet their parents and guardians,” said Ferrell. He also noted those training courses were held annually. Ferrell said more and more faculty are getting involved now, which has led to more training.
Several scenarios were used for training, some of which involve a classroom shooter and the process of loading children into buses.
Recounting an event in South Carolina, Ferrell said, “They were hurting for bus drivers and tried to get buses there to herd children on, but they didn’t have drivers.” Ferrell noted the problem was twofold, “The children just witnessed a traumatic event, so they see a set of doors and jump on that bus, and the bus can't get out because there’s a bus in front and behind it. Then you have a bus full of children, and they can't go anywhere.” Part of the day’s training was to teach staff and officers how to better control that situation.
Pulaski County Public School Board (PCPSB) staff served in different roles for the scenarios. These scenarios can be tense, as law enforcement uses live blanks to simulate shots. One administrator noted she was hit by a piece of plastic on her leg, leaving a bruise in a training last year.
PCPSB superintendent Dr. Kevin Siers found this training very important, especially given its grim nature.
“The event gave our participating teachers and administrators valuable experience and caused us to think about how to act in ways that best ensure the safety of our children if we are ever faced with something as horrible as a school shooting,” said Siers. “It's a sad commentary on today's world that we have to continually train for the possibility of events like these, but it is good that we're part of a community that is proactive in preparation and prioritizes advancing its response capabilities.”
For some participants, this was the first training of this kind. “It’s better to have something than have nothing,” commented Ferrell. “Hopefully, this training will never have to be used, but it’s good to have a plan in case the day does come.”
source: https://www.southwesttimes.com/news/pcms-serves-training-course-law-enforcement
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