May 29, 2007

Violent acts such as deadly shootings at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech are a parent's worst nightmare. Law enforcement officials in Laurens County hope that such an event does not occur locally, but they have united to train for emergency response should the need arise.

Dozens of Laurens County law enforcement officers were on the Presbyterian College campus this week for active shooter response training that included classroom sessions and simulations in a campus residence hall. The training will help standardize police response to all schools in Laurens County.

The idea for the joint training actually originated prior to the Virginia Tech tragedy, during a meeting between Chief John Thomas of Clinton Public Safety, Chief Robin Morse of Laurens City Police, Chief Larry Mulhall of Presbyterian College Campus Police, and Laurens County Sheriff Rick Chastain.

However, the campus massacre validated the need to advance the training schedule.

"It is very difficult to try to anticipate these types of shootings, given the availability of guns, ammunition and automatic firearms," Chief Thomas said.

"And it is nearly impossible for law enforcement to predict if and when another shooting incident will happen," Chief Morse added. "We need to be ready in Laurens County."

The training simulated a mission in which the officers must locate the shooter while checking for victims along the way. Working in three or four person teams, they learned and practiced procedures for advancing through the building in which the risk lies and locating the rooms in which they hear gunshots.

"Our job is to go to where the problem is and address the situation," said Chief Mulhall said.

Officials said the training will continue throughout the summer. An additional training session at PC and firing at the Clinton Police pistol range is planned for late July, followed by a joint exercise in August.

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