‘Go fast and save lives’: Law enforcement officers complete active-shooter training at Somerset school

SOMERSET – An eerie scene unfolded Friday at Somerset Area School District. It was one local law enforcement authorities say they hope never happens.

But if it does, they are better prepared.

Gunshots and a recording of screaming signaled the start of an active-shooter drill, played out over and over Friday during the final day of training hosted by Somerset County Department of Emergency Services.

More than 50 students from law enforcement agencies around the state participated in the two-day course this week. It was provided twice in partnership with the Somerset County district attorney’s office and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Somerset County training officer Joel Landis said.

Officers went through the drill – a shooter in a classroom and a second shooting down the hall – in 90 seconds or less.

“That’s how we train people: Go fast and save lives,” Landis said, adding that he appreciates the school district’s allowing officers to use the space for the week.

The training mixed classroom time and scenario-based learning such as the shooter drills and practicing breaching a steel door with an on-site model and a tool to simulate a deadbolt.

“Thankfully, these are not something these officers deal with regularly,” Landis said. “But to train people to deal with these situations, you have to practice. In order to practice efficiently, you have to make it as real as possible. It gives you the physical and psychological preparation to respond effectively to an active shooter event.”

The county department has now hosted the class five times and relies on firefighters, EMTs and school district personnel to role-play as hostages or shooters.

Somerset County District Attorney Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser participated in the class and said it gave her a new outlook.

“From my perspective, it was completely different from sitting in a courtroom, looking at pictures or reading an investigative report from the officer,” she said. “This was a tremendous aid as far as the district attorney’s office.”

Four federal law enforcement instructors guided officers through the drills. The program, provided by Louisiana State University, included instruction on training additional officers in the field with updated tactics.

“It’s very important because it may not happen, but if it does, they’ve been trained to handle it,” Lazzari-Strasiser said.