RAPID RESPONSE

ECU Police conducts active shooter training on campus

Over several evenings in May, the East Carolina University Police Department took advantage of a quiet, empty campus to conduct active shooter training in Mendenhall Student Center.

“Although we can’t prevent everything, we can be as prepared as we can be and that’s what this training allows for us to do,” said Senior Patrol Officer Frances Finch.

The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), takes ECU officers through simulated scenarios where an active shooter or shooters are somewhere inside the large, multi-room facility. The officers and actors use soap-like, non-lethal rounds and wear protective head and neck gear. The rounds are colored so you can see who shot who or where the missed shots land. The officers say, this type of training is as real-life as they can get.

“It can get that adrenaline going. That’s what we’re looking to do, we want to become more accustomed to those types of scenarios,” said Senior Police Officer Doug Mann.

This type of training gives officers instant feedback. If they make a wrong move and get shot, they can take a mental note of what didn’t work and refine and perfect their skills.

ECU Police officers go over hallway and room clearing techniques before they gear up with real guns for an active shooter simulation. (Contributed photo)

“I want this to be muscle memory. I want officers to be able to react to this, for this to be second nature,” said Sgt. C.T. Jones who led the training.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to think through what they would do if they encounter a threatening situation like an active shooter. Run, hide, fight are three words law enforcement want running in someone’s mind if he or she is in danger.

“If you find yourself in a threatening situation where there’s an active shooter that has entered your building, your workspace, your residence: Run. Hide. Fight. Run out of the building as quickly as you can, leave your belongings. If you can’t run out of the building, then it becomes necessary to hide where you can barricade yourself. If the gunman threatens your safety, and your only option is to fight, then you fight to live,” said Lt. Chris Sutton.

ECU Police encourage members of the ECU community to download the new LiveSafe app. Launched on campus this spring, the free app allows users to contact ECU Police in various ways, including a phone call, text, video or picture message. Users can discretely message ECU police if speaking during a phone call would be too dangerous.

For more information or to download LiveSafe visit, www.ecu.edu/livesafe.

ECU Police will continue their training in Mendenhall Student Center Friday and Saturday nights. The building will be closed during the training. Signs and police caution tape will remind visitors that the building is closed due to the training.