Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Sheriff Michael Bouchard, and Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie Markavitch are teaming up to ensure that teachers and staff at schools throughout the county have the training they need should they ever encounter an active shooter. Experts from Oakland County Homeland Security Division and the Sheriff’s Office will conduct five training sessions for school personnel on how to react in an active shooter situation in January and February.
“Dec. 14, 2012 is emblazoned on our memories forever,” Patterson said. “Many died in the Newtown, Conn. tragedy. But many others survived because teachers knew just what to do with a shooter in the building.”
In the days following the Newtown, Conn. mass shooting, Homeland Security Division Manager Ted Quisenberry contacted Oakland Schools about collaborating on large-scale active-shooter training sessions for school personnel in Oakland County.
“We are fortunate to have the resources of Oakland County Homeland Security available to the local schools,” Dr. Markavitch said. “The ongoing collaborations between Oakland Schools, local school districts and Oakland County government make it possible for us to work together to keep our schools and our communities safe.”
Oakland County already had an active shooter training program in place. Earlier in 2012, Homeland Security Division and the Sheriff’s Office trained hundreds of county employees as well as hospitals and long-term care facilities on what to do in an active shooter situation.
Sheriff Bouchard, who also has had numerous inquiries of late, gave a school an active shooter presentation this past Monday. He said, “Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly, which requires people on the scene to be prepared both mentally and physically while waiting for law enforcement to arrive.”
Training will take place on the following dates:
Thursday, Jan. 24
One session: 1-3:30 p.m.
Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center
2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
(Limit 85 attendees)
Monday, Feb. 11
Two sessions: 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.
Oakland Schools Building
2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
(Limit 60 attendees each session)
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Two sessions: 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.
Oakland Schools Building
2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
(Limit 120 attendees each session)
Teachers and school staff who want to attend a training session should register with Oakland Schools Event Management one day prior to the training session by calling 248-209-2500 or via email at EMRegistration@oakland.k12.mi.us. Oakland County Homeland Security Division recommends that all participants complete a 45-minute online training program prior to the workshop. Event Management will send the link to registered participants.