Monday morning, Bainbridge Public Safety, Decatur County Sheriff’s and members of the BOE security took place in an ALERRT Active Shooter Training at the Elcan-King school building.

BPS Captain Ryan Wimberley and staff members from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center instructed the all- day training.

The course covers shooting and moving, threshold evaluation, concepts and principles of team movement, setting up for and room entry techniques, approach and breaching the crisis site, secondary responder tactics, improvised explosive devices and post engagement priorities of work.

Jared York, one of the members from GPSTC, said they are training the officers for ALERRT style responses to active shooters; they want all officers to be on the same page when it comes to handling an active shooting situation.

York said this should hopefully take care of any confusion because everyone will know how all the departments plan to respond.

“Hopefully they have a better understanding of what their responsibility is when they show up to a school, office complex or church,” York said. “But, also understand what other people’s responsibilities are so they can make a seamless transition into working as a team.”

York said he understands this course training may be difficult for some officers because they are not used to working with other agencies.

“We sometimes get to where we train one way at our location,” York said. “We become used to that and aren’t accustomed to what other locations are doing.”

The training that took place was also ongoing in Coffee County and other surrounding areas.

York said Georgia State Patrol will be training Thomas County next month and teaching the same material they teach.

“It is all under the same umbrella,” he said. “We teach this as a national standard.” 

Agencies from across Georgia will continue the training until everyone has been instructed on how to isolate, distract and neutralize an active shooter.