Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Multi-agency active-shooter simulation trains Crisp County first responders at Crisp County High School
Summary
A four-day active-shooter simulation at Crisp County High School brought multiple law-enforcement and public-safety agencies together to rehearse coordinated response, uncover radio-communications gaps and practice casualty care to improve readiness, organizers said.
A four-day active-shooter simulation at Crisp County High School in Cordele City brought eight law-enforcement agencies and multiple public-safety partners together this week to test how teams coordinate under realistic conditions, organizers said.
The exercise, hosted by the Crisp County Sheriff's Office, was designed to test responder reflexes, communications and casualty care while identifying areas to improve interagency coordination. "It's not a matter of if this could happen here. It's a matter of when," said Dr. Brandon Williams, the school superintendent, after observing the drills.
Organizers said the event aimed to train agencies to operate as a single unit during an incident and to surface shortcomings under stress. An agency official involved in the training said, "We've actually found that inside this building, one set of radio communications that we use is not accurate for this or not appropriate for this building because of trying to reach a tower that's out on 280 West or east in Fort Hill," and that teams will rely more on a closer primary tower near the sheriff's office to address the gap.
Participants listed included hospital staff, county EMS, county fire, city fire and city police departments, alongside the eight law-enforcement agencies the organizers cited. Trainers also emphasized casualty-care skills: responders practiced applying tourniquets, moving the "walking wounded" out of danger and using nonverbal cues when radios fail. "You have to be able to look at them. You have to know what they're thinking," an agency official said, describing how teams communicate when voice contact is not possible.
Speakers acknowledged that not every scenario can be anticipated, but said repeated, realistic drills improve preparedness and confidence across responding agencies. Hospital staff and fire/EMS personnel participated to help coordinate patient care and transport during mass-casualty scenarios.
Organizers said the exercise's main outcome was identifying technical and procedural improvements — particularly in radio coverage and interagency communications — and building responder confidence. No formal policy changes or votes were announced during the event. From Crisp County High School, Rick Smarr reported for Cordele City.
