Sheriff’s deputies provide active threat training to staff

On January 24, two deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s office who work as School Safety Officers provided training to Vancouver employees on what to do if faced with an active threat.

While noting that work is one of the safest places to be, they encouraged employees to consider their options just in case.  Oftentimes, when people are faced with an unexpected emergency, their first reaction can be to deny the situation is happening and do nothing at all.  That is why the deputies encourage employees to always be aware of their surroundings and create a personal action plan for each scenario they encounter (work, movie theaters, shopping malls, etc.)

The training included a review of the Run, Hide and Fight options and explained what to expect when first responders arrive at the scene.  They also encouraged employees to know what information they should share if they call 9-1-1.  For those who were not able to attend the training, the attached poster provides more information and details about what to do. (English version. Spanish version.)

After the training, the deputies were on hand to answer questions and discuss staff concerns.

Of course, the best way to deal with this type of situation is to prevent it. The See Something, Say Something campaign encourages all citizens to report suspicious behavior to the local authorities. The Homeland Security website provides information on what suspicious behavior is and the steps to take should you observe it.