Calif. Schools Receive Active Shooter Response Training

Times-Herald, Vallejo, Calif.

Feb. 25—Even before the most recent mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High in Florida, local law enforcement and school districts were aware of the terrifying trend in the United States and had begun training to maximize people's survival odds in the off chance it happens here.

While no one said they were happy that this type of training is necessary, they do say it's better than not having it.

"Any training your school, company, corporation or office can get, is good," American Canyon Police Chief Oscar Ortiz said. "You pay now or you pay later."

Ortiz and other local law enforcement members say they've adopted a national model called "Run-Hide-Fight." The Napa Sheriff's Department conducts this training for the Napa Valley Unified School District, including American Canyon High School, which had its Active Shooter training just last week. It was planned months ago, and not in response to the Florida tragedy, a teacher there said. Napa's Vintage High School also received training in recent days.

"Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff and we are working to approach the issue from different directions," district spokeswoman Elizabeth Emmett said. "Each of our schools conducts a lock-down (active shooter) drill at least twice a year."

The district also has mental health resources and anonymous reporting methods to encourage both supporting mental and emotional health, and speaking up if someone or something seems wrong—the "if you see something, say something" concept.

"Last fall, NVUSD made the decision to include in our lock-down training for teachers and staff the concept of Run-Hide-Fight," she said. "We made that decision after our law enforcement partners, Napa PD and Napa County Sheriff (also American Canyon PD) advised us that approach can save lives. The officers are conducting the training at each individual school site, so staff can talk specifically about strategies and plans for their campus."

Vallejo law enforcement takes a similar approach.

"Having two high school age children, I think these drills are a good idea," Vallejo Police Chief Andrew Bidou said. "We have earthquake and fire drills and they each happen far more infrequently than tragic school shooting incidents. We will work with any school that requests our service. In fact, I believe we helped St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School just a few weeks ago and have worked with others schools as well."

Vallejo Police Sgt. Brent Garrick coordinates most of that training, Bidou said.

"We have been coordinating this type of training for about the past five years, for some of Vallejo's schools; the private schools specifically," Garrick said. "They reached out to me. St. Pat's, St. Basils, Touro. The VCUSD hasn't reached out, though some of their departments, like the transportation department, have."

Saying he doesn't want to "buy into the hysteria around this," Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent, Adam Clark, said he was reluctant "to discuss these issues while our nation continues to mourn the senseless loss of life" in Florida. He instead provided the Times-Herald with the district's safety protocols, which show the steps district officials have and are taking to ensure safety on campus.

"Although the safety of our students and staff is of primary importance and requires vigilance, improvements and actions on a daily basis, the tragic shooting and loss of innocent lives of students and staff in Florida, as well as the countless other similar acts in recent years, once again sends us looking inward with a more critical and urgent eye regarding student and staff safety," the document reads.

It says that there's video surveillance at all middle and high schools as well as at several elementary schools, though a few still await installation, ... Perimeter fencing is being repaired and improved, ... Paging systems have recently been completed and all sites have internal/external paging and Automated External Defibrillators AEDs.

District officials are also coordinating with the Vallejo Police Department through its School Resource Officer program, and training is planned in March for SWAT/agency tactical response, the document says. Administrators have met with senior VPD officials this month "to discuss next steps training for active shooter response actions," as well.

It says that hundreds of district staff members have received Disaster Preparation and Critical Incident Response Training since last year, and there's ongoing First Aid/CPR certification, Stop the Bleed/AED Training, and Critical Issues in Campus Safety/Active Shooter School Site Safety Plans training. And the district's safety and action plans have been completely revised, with a Board review and approval set for Feb. 28.

Spokespeople for both the Benicia Police Department and the Benicia Unified School District say the close relationship between the two helps ensure the safety of the city's students.

"With the increasing numbers of school shootings, we are continually trying to increase the security of our campuses," BPD spokeswoman Irma Widjojo said. "More recently, the district and police department have created a City Safety Committee, which includes members of the police and fire departments and the district. The committee will work together to create best practices for critical situations, including first responder responses, communications and equipment needs, among others. We are committed to our youth."

Benicia School District Superintendent Charles Young agreed, saying, "Everything is about the safety of our students. Each school has a safety plan, as does the district, which are updated each year. We have a variety of drills. We use ALICE -- Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. Site administrators go through safety trainings. And we have a really strong relationships with the PD. We have two full-time Student Resource Officers, who spend most of their time at the schools."

Representatives of both agencies met to develop an updated plan after the Florida tragedy, Young said.

"We're putting together a new plan building on the safety analysis we've done, and how we respond to this type of situation," he said. "It's unfortunate, but you've got to be real. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. We'll continue to ensure we're providing the safest environment possible."

Police and school officials in American Canyon, Vallejo and beyond are in the same operating mode.

Over the years, Vallejo Police have developed a hybrid training design -- Active shooter/workplace violence training, Garrick said.

"These active shooter events last between three and 15 minutes. The last one, in Florida, took six minutes. At the end of the day, your survival matters most. The most important thing is the three main aspects -- used nationally -- Run-Hide-Fight -- meaning run and seek cover; find a decent, concealed area to hide and, as a last resort, fight, if you get to the point that there is no escape," he said. "Most places have responded well to the training. They know, for instance, that they can use a fire extinguisher as a weapon. Other things will work, also. It saddens me that we have to rise to this level of training but we have to protect our own."

Besides schools, other Vallejo entities, SolTrans and the U.S. Department of Forestry on Mare Island included, requested and received training, he said.

"We're open to any entity who wants advice or evaluation," Garrick said.

Situational awareness is another key phrase to remember, he said.

"The message is basic -- preparation; you have to be prepared because we live in a time when no place is sacred -- not schools, not churches," he said. "We highly encourage places to be prepared and to provide staff and students the proper training. It's sad, but it's empowering."