Lead Stories and Pictures

SWEEPING THE ROOM — David Abbott, a reserve officer with county and Anderson, and Andrew Cummings, a deputy with the Noel Marshal’s Office, enter a classroom at MCHS looking for an active shooter during a training session held May 1 as student Kord Stancell shies away from the officers.


PLANNING SESSION — McDonald County Deputy Sheriff Mike Hall discusses an active shooter training session with fellow law enforcement officers and members of the Anderson Fire Department prior to Thursday’s drill at McDonald County High School.

Training that is hoped to never be used

by Rick Peck
rpeck@nwaonline.net

About 20 emergency services personnel, including law enforcement officers from the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office and the Anderson Police Department, first responders from the Anderson Fire Department and EMTs from Freeman Ambulance Service, took part in an active shooter training exercise May 1 at McDonald County High School.

“It went well,” said McDonald County Deputy Mike Hall. “It was a good, realistic training exercise. We had some guys that had been here before and they knew what was going on. But we had some guys that this was their first time in this situation. There is a difference in tactics between an active shooter situation versus a barricaded subject.

“You have to be prepared for the unexpected. I didn’t use the shooter everybody thought I would. I had a girl from high school play the part. We had some kids in the same room and they relayed to me what they saw the officers do.”

Daniel Gardner is the School Resource Officer from the sheriff’s department. Gardner said the training not only helps officers know what to do, it gives them an opportunity to learn the physical layout of the high school.

“This is something we never want to have to do,” said Gardner, “but you have to be prepared. This is not like an entry to a house. Here you have rooms everywhere, big, long hallways and over a thousand kids. The more we practice, the better we can do. Time and communication are key. All the students who saw us today also know we are there to help them.”

Chief Deputy Gregg Sweeten said the training has become an annual event for the sheriff’s department.
“The Missouri Sheriff’s Association trained Mike (Hall) and Mike trains us,” said Sweeten. “We are fortunate to have this. We don’t want it to ever happen. But we have seen the Midwest is not immune to these type of incidents.”

High School principal Dr. Mark Stanton said the exercise went very well.

“From the standpoint of students, teachers, law enforcement and everyone else that participated, I thought it went very well,” said Stanton. “We try to prepare, but never, never, never ever want this to happen. The training allows everybody to know their roles.”

Superintendent Randall Smith said the training is like other drills the school holds.
“It’s something to be prepared for, like a tornado or some of the other drills we do,” said Smith. “We want to work with the sheriff’s office and other agencies for any emergency.”