Deputies train for school shooting incidents

Elmore County sheriff's deputies worked from room to room seeking the 'shooter' during the training exercise at Glenns Ferry School.

Taking advantage of a campus devoid of students because of spring break, the Elmore County Sheriff's Office held an "Active Killer" training exercise last Thursday at Glenns Ferry school.

Chief Deputy Mike Barclay facilitated the all-day drill that engaged deputies and detectives in five different scenarios. He said the department now uses the term "Active Killer" for its exercises because in these kinds of situations "killing is the perpetrator's intention."

Whether it be at a courthouse, restaurant, mall, school or another venue where large groups of people gather, deputies must train to be focused on neutralizing the situation, even if that means ignoring the plight of injured innocents.

To provide deputies with as realistic a scenario as possible, middle and high school students from Mountain Home volunteered to play the role of victim during the exercise.

Sue Taylor, of Glenns Ferry, agreed to portray an adult hostage for one of the scenarios.

During the pre-exercise briefing, at which deputies received some safety instructions, Barclay explained that no shooting has taken place in schools where there is a law enforcement presence. Because of that, deputies frequently visit Glenns Ferry school and will be more of a presence during school-sponsored sports activities, he said.

Deputies were instructed to "follow the sound of shooting" in order to neutralize the situation quickly. Where there is the sound of gunfire, there is the likelihood of more victims, he explained. "How we play today is how we're going to react in the real thing," Barclay told deputies.

In order to neutralize a dire situation, deputies drill themselves in "Positive Self Talk" which keeps them focused on the task at hand and gives them the needed confidence to achieve the desired outcome--taking down or arresting the perpetrator and limiting casualties.

Most of the department's deputies took some part in last week's exercise from being actual participants or just observing in order to offer input during a debriefing that took place at day's end.

This was the fourth drill for Deputy Greg Genz, an 11-year veteran of law enforcement, two of which he has served with the Elmore County Sheriff's Office. He said the exercises gives deputies a "sense of realism." It heightens a deputy's awareness of his or her surroundings, builds up anticipation when going into an unknown situation, hones skills, and helps to identify needed improvements, he said.

As disquieting as it is to say, Genz feels it is just a matter of time when an active killer incident will happen close to home. Drills like the one held last Thursday help deputies train for what he believes is the inevitable.

While drills like the one held last week help to sharpen deputies' skills, it also is a learning experience for volunteers who participate in the exercise.

Kaylee Andrus, the daughter of Detective Clint Andrus, was one of six Mountain Home students who took part in the drill. She said it was "a fun experience," but acknowledges that someday local students could be faced with the real thing.

Jordyn Wortham said she learned the importance of listening to officers' orders, and being observant so that she can provide information to on-scene law enforcement.

There was some collateral damage during last week's drill. Two of the volunteers were accidently hit by dye pellets used to simulate live ammunition. Ambulance workers on-scene tended to the unintended victims. Neither were seriously injured, and the mishap served as a learning tool for deputies. Know who the real target is.

Barclay said that, overall, he was pleased with last week's drill. It was the second drill of its type to take place at Glenns Ferry in the past two years.