On a recent Saturday morning, over 40 individuals gathered at the Continental Gin Building in Deep Ellum, Dallas, to participate in a crucial active shooter training session. This event was organized by the Dallas Police Department alongside the North Texas Crime Commission, part of a series of 31 training sessions being conducted across North Texas.
Valerie Najdrovsky, a 52-year-old resident of Dallas, decided to attend the training for the first time following a recent shooting incident near her home. She recalled the frightening experience of hearing gunshots and felt compelled to gain knowledge on how to react in such dangerous situations. “It was kind of scary,” she shared. “That’s why I was like OK, I need to take this class. … What if I was out?”
Jacob Farley, a senior trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, led the training session in Dallas, highlighting the growing demand for such programs. He noted, “The demand and need for active shooter training has increased because of the amount of stressful situations and the amount of stress responses that our citizens are going through.”
Farley emphasized the importance of understanding how to react effectively in crises to mitigate injuries and potentially save lives. He revealed that various organizations often approach the department to conduct training, which is frequently held across the state, including numerous requests from local schools.
The Dallas training lasted over two hours and included representatives from the North Texas Crime Commission, local churches, and concerned residents. Attendees were engaged in discussions about their personal experiences and asked several questions throughout the session. The training covered critical statistics related to active shooter incidents in the United States, detailing where these events frequently occur, the profiles of attackers, their motives, and examined specific case studies, such as the tragic 2017 church shooting in Sutherland Springs.
A focal point of the training was the strategy of avoid, deny, and defend, which can be crucial during an active shooting event. The acronym translates to:
Avoid = Run
Deny = Hide
Defend = Fight
Najdrovsky reflected on her key takeaway from the training, emphasizing the importance of being aware of her surroundings. She learned to identify potential escape routes in case an emergency arises.
The training also outlined priorities for law enforcement responding to active shooter situations, stating that the primary focus is to stop the killing, followed by stopping the dying, and finally evacuating the injured. An important point raised during the session involved the possibility of an attacker posing as a law enforcement officer to gain entry into secured areas. When asked about this scenario, Farley reassured participants that it is entirely appropriate to ask anyone at the door for identification before allowing them in.
Additionally, Dallas police Sgt. Louis Silvestro, who supported Farley during the training, recommended that individuals should always call 911 to verify if someone knocking at their door is indeed a law enforcement official.
The training falls under the Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) program, established to help civilians prepare for and respond to active shooting incidents. This program was developed at Texas State University in 2004 and is associated with the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) initiative, designed for law enforcement personnel.
David Dean, chair of the North Texas Crime Commission, stated, “It is becoming essential training when you live in a high-density urban area such as North Texas.” He underscored that awareness and knowledge of how to effectively deal with active shooter situations are crucial while waiting for first responders to arrive.
The North Texas Crime Commission plans to sponsor additional training sessions in the following months, acknowledging the vital role such education plays in enhancing public safety in communities across the region.
image source from：dallasnews
