Active Shooter Response Training Study Held

By Rep. Rick West

Last week at the Capitol, I held my interim study on active shooter response training for law enforcement professionals.

Shootings in schools and the public are a huge concern to everyone. My hope was to bring various law enforcement officers and public safety professionals together to assess what training is available and what might still be needed, and how the Legislature might be able to help.

I was pleased with how each study participant approached the topic. I also was impressed with how many of the presenters already knew each other and have been working together on this issue for some time.

Colton Jones with the Black Banner Group helped me organize this study and was the first speaker.

He said every state is different in approaching active shooter incidences. He examined various responses to mass shootings at schools, including Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook and Uvalde, Texas.

He said training and coordination made the difference in the quick response at Sandy Hook and the incredibly delayed response in Uvalde.

Tanner Killiingsworth, a student resource officer from Latimer County, said it can actually be a hindrance when officers from multiple agencies respond to the same incident if they don’t have uniform training and great communication skills.

I was grateful for the other presenters, including Oklahoma Commissioner of Public Safety and Homeland Security Advisor Tim Tipton; Mike Fike, director of the Oklahoma School Security Institute; Bobby Floyd, director of training, Austin Slaten, academy coordinator, and Clay Anderson, an instructor, at the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET); and Brett Macy, deputy director of the Transportation Division at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Each shared about what training is available and what is still needed in the state. It was a good study.

 

Also last week, Jeffery Bengs, an instructor at Carl Albert State College, invited me to speak to three of his Social and Behavioral Science classes. I enjoy speaking to this next generation who will become leaders in their communities. One such student was Patrick Guerrero. I really enjoyed visiting with him after class. One class was made up of students who are the first in their family to attend college; some students were from Arkansas. CASC is such a  great college. We are very fortunate to have it located in Poteau.

 

Also last week, I took part in a dedication of a Veterans’ Memorial at Vaughn Memorial Cemetery in Monroe. Veteran Travis Loggains planned this memorial for the 117 veterans buried at this cemetery. He was able to collect enough donations to have each veteran’s name etched on the stone.

I was asked to speak, and it was my honor to do so. Travis spent countless hours walking the cemetery and gathering names. Many volunteers worked to make this memorial a great place to come and honor these veterans.

Our veterans deserve our utmost respect. Travis Loggains had a dream, and through hard work and a deep respect for veterans, it became a reality.

 

Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.

As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.

 

Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.