Emergency responders in Dane, Green County undergo active shooting drills for crisis preparation
In a significant move towards enhancing safety, the active threat training at Brooklyn Elementary School is set to make a profound impact on rural communities. This training, organised in collaboration with the Dane County Sheriff's Office, follows best practices for active threat training in rural areas, focusing on collaboration, tailored preparation, and progressive readiness.
Collaborative Approach for Rural Communities
Effective training promotes collaboration among law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), fire services, and school officials. This integrated approach ensures a unified response during active threats, such as school shootings. Multi-year progressive training plans, like Ohio’s Integrated Preparedness Planning, are tailored to local risk assessments, building capabilities across agencies.
Customised Training for Rural First Responders
Recognising the unique challenges faced by rural communities, training programs like the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) provide courses that address rural-specific issues. These programs offer both in-person and remote options to increase access, focusing on building skills to operate in "warm zones" to safely provide emergency medical care under threat.
Diverse Training Courses and Programs
National and state programs offer a variety of active shooter and threat response courses. These include ALICE Training Institute’s Active Shooter Response Training, Active Shooter & Emergency Situations courses targeting public safety communication and law enforcement tactical response, and FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Dispatch and telecommunicator-focused active threat training is also available to improve early incident detection and response coordination.
Progressive Training Methodologies
A progressive building-block approach, spanning multiple years, improves skills and capability in a layered manner. Simulated exercises, scenario drills, and multi-agency collaboration exercises are best practices to reinforce classroom learning and improve real-time decision-making.
Resources for Rural Communities
The Department of Homeland Security supports the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC), which offers specialized courses for rural first responders. FEMA's independent study and instructor-led programs provide scalable options to support small or resource-limited agencies. State-level Emergency Management Agencies maintain updated training catalogs and schedules openly accessible to support localised preparedness.
Key Programs and Resources
| Program / Resource | Focus | Format | Notes | |----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)| Training tailored for rural first responders | In-person & online | DHS funded; focuses on rural challenges | | ALICE Training Institute | Active Shooter Response | 2 days / 16 hours | Offers expanded active threat response courses | | FEMA CERT Basic Training | Community resilience & multi-hazard | Online + in-person | Includes active threat situational awareness | | State EMA Integrated Preparedness Planning | Multi-year, progressive training plan | State-specific | Based on risk assessments; Ohio as example | | Active Shooter Dispatch Training (APCO, others) | Emergency communications focus | Varied | Important for early threat identification & response |
Considerations for Effective Training
Training should always reflect local risks and resource availability. Rural areas require adaptation to geographic and staffing realities. Effective training programs integrate medical response with law enforcement tactics to improve warm zone care. Realistic, multi-agency exercises improve interoperability and communication across responding entities. Staying current with state and federal training catalogs ensures access to the latest best practices.
The active threat training at Brooklyn Elementary School, despite addressing a tough topic, was described as fun. Participants, who are first responders eager to give back, found the training important and meaningful. Sheriff Cody Kanable, a native of the village of Brooklyn and a graduate of Brooklyn Elementary School, believes that training sessions like this are particularly important for rural communities with limited resources. The training aligns with national models to ensure consistent skills and techniques are used by whoever responds.
In collaboration with rural communities, education-and-self-development programs focusing on active threat training, such as the one at Brooklyn Elementary School, can promote a safer environment. These tailored programs, like the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC), provide sports-like training sessions on emergency response, enhancing participants' skills and readiness. Owing to their rural specificity, these training programs aim to prepare first responders for unique challenges faced in their communities, fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility.
