From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: Apr 02, 2010

Summary:

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office utilized three Lincoln City area schools during the spring break week to provide training to officers on response to school shootings, or, what law enforcement refers to as "Active Shooter Training." The training was offered to all local law enforcement agencies and was geared toward teaching officers how to effectively respond to incidents similar to the school shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon in the late 1990's. The main objective of the training is to limit the amount of injuries/casualties to students and staff through rapid response and threat identification by responding officers.

Multiple training sessions were conducted at the Lincoln City Elementary School, the Lincoln City High School, and the Oceanlake School. Officers and role players utilized confrontational simulation training equipment which allows them to train with weaponry and tools very similar to what they carry on duty every day.

Sheriff Dennis Dotson stated, "We are very appreciative of the partnership we have with the Lincoln County School District. Having the ability to train inside our local schools is extremely valuable to our officers when responding to these types of events where every second is crucial. Each school is designed differently and poses different obstacles for our deputies and officers to overcome."

"I am proud of our instructors who presented this training and the deputies, officers, and troopers who participated" said Sheriff's Office Patrol Commander, Lieutenant Dave Carey. "Our instructors were able to simulate real life scenarios and I was very impressed with the skills and decision making I saw from everyone who participated in the training."

The Sheriff's Office plans to continue offering this training to our local law enforcement officers each year with the goal of utilizing other schools throughout the county.

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