Active shooter seminar planned

Eastlake Police Department Officer Steve Tryon, who is also a certified ALICE instructor, and Sgt. Mike Werner will be hosting an informative presentation on what to do in the event of an active shooter.

ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.

The presentation takes place starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Eastlake E-PAL Community Center, located at 600 E. 349th St.

The event, which is sponsored by Eagle Protective Services, will be free to city of Eastlake residents. Residents from surrounding areas also are invited to attend for a $5 donation, which goes back into the community.

The event is graphic in nature and is intended for a mature audience.

The event, which is normally geared to schools and businesses, arose from a general interest on the subject expressed in the community after the Harvest Music Festival shooting in Las Vegas, Werner said.

A conversation sparked on Facebook and someone had mentioned learning more about what to do if there was an active shooter.

The presentation will be similar to what is offered through the ALICE training involving schools.

“It’s just one of those things that really, whether in the schools or a business, it’s all the same concepts to apply, even if you are in the general public,” Werner said. “It’s taking the school safety training and applying it to any location you are at, whether out in public, at a concert or in the park, wherever you are at, the same concepts are going to apply.”

The presentation will explain what to do if you encounter an active shooter in your everyday life, such as in school, at sporting events, shopping, medical facilities, places of worship, public/government offices or at the workplace.

The presentation also will address questions you should ask should you find yourself in an active shooter situation, such as: Are you aware of your surroundings, do you know how to plan an escape, what can you defend yourself with, should you fight back and what to do when help arrives.

Werner noted that if the event receives a good response, it would be something they would consider holding again.