Law enforcement often trains for active shooter scenarios, but in real life those
situations involve many other agencies and organizations.
To better learn how coordination between departments would work in a shooting, multiple
agencies took part in a unique joint training exercise Wednesday on Trine University’s
campus.
The exercise simulated a shooting in an academic building, with the shooter fleeing
to a residence hall. A second shooting was simulated in the residence hall.
Participants included Indiana State Police, the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, Angola
Police Department, Fremont Police Department, Ashley Police Department, Hamilton Police
Department, Steuben County Emergency Management, Trine Campus Safety and all the fire
departments in Steuben County.
Cross-departmental collaboration was a critical component of the exercise.
“When you look at recent active shootings, the thing we've learned is it's very important
to get firefighters in there right away,” said Matt Lazoff, who assisted with planning
the simulation.
Sixty-five students attending the Indiana State Police career camp at Trine role-played
as victims or innocent bystanders.
Unique opportunity
Lazoff, the senior sergeant at the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post, said the
idea for a broader training exercise came about when Cisco Ortiz, vice president for
student affairs and dean of students at Trine, approached him about conducting an
active shooter drill at the university.
“I said, ‘Hey, here's a unique opportunity that we've never done before,’ ” he recalled.
“We can partner not only with law enforcement, but we can also bring in the fire department
and we can bring in these students, giving it a realistic element you can't duplicate
anywhere else.”
“Trine University gave us such a unique opportunity. They opened their facilities
to us and said, ‘Hey, do whatever you need to make this work.’ ”
Also assisting with the coordination of the planning were Detective First Sergeant
Chris Emerick of the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, Lee Greenameyer from Steuben
County Emergency Management and Jason Meek from Angola Fire Department. Emerick had
participated in the last active shooter exercise conducted on Trine’s campus in 2013.
“We’re grateful for the service of our local law enforcement and emergency management
personnel and are happy to support them in any way we can to help keep our community
safe,” said Ortiz. “Our campus safety team was also able to participate and provide
assistance to the responding agencies throughout the event.”
Lazoff said the goal was not only for the university and the various agencies to evaluate
how they would respond in such an active shooter situation, but to help build relationships
between all the parties involved and continue discussions on how they would coordinate
efforts in a crisis.
“So often, there's a divide between businesses, law enforcement, fire, all those different
elements,” he said.
Having the students participate heightened the realism of the exercise, since Lazoff
said he usually feels fortunate to have five role players for active shooter training.
In exchange for their help, the students not only received a different perspective
on law enforcement training, but also information they could use in an active shooter
situation.
“God forbid, if it happens at their school, they’re more prepared,” Lazoff said.
Community and local school leaders were on hand to witness the exercise, and more
information will be provided to local school corporations. Organizers also plan to
have a follow-up tabletop simulation with Trine University administrators to discuss
what additional actions the university would take following an active shooter scenario.
Prior to the exercise, all first responders, participants, and observers were treated
to a meal in the Whitney Commons café with the assistance of Bon Appetit at Trine
University.