Active Shooter Training

Active shooter incidents are often unpredictable and evolve quickly. In the midst of the chaos, anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter incident. The Gallatin Police Department has officers who have been trained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to bring lifesaving lessons to your employees in the event of an active shooter incident.

Office of Homeland Security - Active Shooter Training Summary

An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.

How to Respond When an Active Shooter is in Your Vicinity

  1. Evacuate if there is an accessible escape path.

    • Have an escape route and plan in mind
    • Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
    • Leave your belongings behind
    • Help others escape, if possible
    • Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be
    • Do not attempt to move wounded people
    • Call 911 after you are safe

  2. If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide.

    • Be out of the active shooter’s view
    • Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
    • Not trap you or restrict your options for movement
    • Lock the door
    • Blockade the door with heavy furniture
    • Silence your cell phone and/or pager
    • Turn off any source of noise (i.e., radios, televisions)
    • Hide behind large items (i.e., cabinets, desks)
    • Remain quiet

  3. Take action against the active shooter As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter b

    y:
    • Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
    • Throwing items and improvising weapons
    • Yelling
    • Committing to your actions

  4. How to respond when law enforcement arrives:

    • Remain calm, and follow officers’ instructions
    • Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets)
    • Immediately raise hands and spread fingers
    • Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety
    • Avoid pointing, screaming and/or yelling
    • Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises

  5. Information to provide to law enforcement or 911 operator:

    • Location of the active shooter
    • Number of shooters, if more than one
    • Physical description of shooters
    • Number and type of weapons held by the shooters
    • Number of potential victims at the location