Lebanon
It did, of course, and now the push by the Lebanon Police Department to get businesses and individuals trained on how to respond to an active-shooter situation is more important than ever, Chief Richard Mello said.
“Given the increase in ‘active-shooter’ events over the last five or 10 years, it’s never been more important to have a solid plan for reacting to a possible active-threat event,” Mello said. “The course provides the necessary information that helps civilians prepare for the unlikely occurrence of an active-shooter scenario.”
Last weekend, a gunman open-fired inside an Orlando, Fla., nightclub, killing 49 people before being shot and killed by police. Scores more were injured inside Pulse, a gay nightclub, when Omar Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, went on a rampage with a rifle and a handgun.
Mello said last Sunday’s shooting “without question” has underlined the importance of preparing the community for an active shooter.
“It just reaffirms that the threat has no boundaries,” Mello said.
Because of a federal grant-funded initiative, a group of Lebanon police officers — and officers from Claremont, Hanover and other communities — received training over the winter in how to best prepare others to react in these situations.
Mello said his department, even before the recent deadly shooting in Orlando, received responses from eight to 10 Lebanon business owners who wish to hold the training at their respective businesses.
In addition, about two dozen people have indicated they wish to attend one of two free courses on June 24 and July 7.
The fact that active-shooter situations have become more commonplace makes being prepared essential, Mello said.
“We, as police officers and we as a society, have to acclimate ourselves; the world is changing,” Mello said.
At the training events, Lebanon police will teach the concept of “avoid, deny and defend,” Mello said.
The first priority for those caught in an active-shooter event should be to try to avoid the path of the gunman. Next, they should deny the shooter access by barricading or locking doors. Under the worst-case scenario, Mello said, they should try to disarm or disable the shooter.
Lebanon Chamber of Commerce President Paul Boucher said he hadn’t heard of the upcoming training sessions, but said they are an “excellent idea.”
“It could happen here,” he said of an active-shooter situation. “It is always better to be prepared.”
Some Claremont police officers also received the same training, Chief Alex Scott said.
Prior to receiving that specific training, Scott said, his agency had in place a similar program that trained citizens on how to deal with “active threats” — active-shooter situations, for example, or bomb and knife attacks.
Scott estimated that about 300 people have received the training from his department.
Hanover Police Chief Charlie Dennis said he, too, sent a group of officers to the training — Hanover and Claremont police attended a February training, while Lebanon attended a November 2015 session. Due to staffing issues, he said, Hanover police won’t hold any events or visit any businesses until the fall.
“Many active-shooter events are over prior to law enforcement arriving on scene,” Dennis said. “With that in mind, it is important for civilians to know and be prepared to take immediate action to protect themselves and possibly those around them. This type of training could increase the survivability of victims in an active-shooter event.”
Dennis said the specific model of training that all three sets of officers learned was developed by Texas State University through its Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program.
Hartford Police Chief Phil Kasten said one of his sergeants has also received such training, and has met with more than a half-dozen area businesses to work on preparedness.
Officials within the Security Department at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center said they regularly push for active-shooter training inside the hospital.
Dan Dahmen, head of security at DHMC, said the hospital developed its own training course and holds drills on a regular basis.
Jim Alexander, a former Lebanon police chief who is now DHMC’s emergency management coordinator, applauded Mello’s forward thinking in sending his officers to the training.
“We (at DHMC) are in complete agreement as to what we need to be doing to educate our staff, and in the chief’s place, the public,” Alexander said.
Lebanon police will hold both free training events at the Kilton Public Library on June 24 and July 7 at noon.
To attend, call Beth Beraldi at 603-448-8800. For more information, call Lt. Richard Smolenski at 603-448-1212.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.