Sheriffs Train for Possible School Shooting
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Posted: 4:48 PM Jul 18, 2008
Sheriffs Train for Possible School Shooting
With school shootings becoming more common around the U.S., the Walton County Sheriff's Office started a new training program that will help prepare deputies in case it were to happen here.
Reporter: Alex Denis
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School shootings have become an almost regular occurrence in America.

In 1966 a student from the University of Texas went on a shooting rampage from a tower, killing 14 students and wounding 31.

Since then we've had Columbine and Virginia Tech, but what if it happened here in Walton County? Sheriff’s officers are preparing for the worst.

Officers listened intently as instructors reviewed past school massacres pointing out similarities and explaining proper procedure

Dep. Chad Biernacki said, "A school shooting is a reality in the United States and it's important for us to experience this training so we at least have some idea what to expect when we arrive on the scene."

On the other end of the school, volunteers from the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast were assigned parts and asked to pretend that this was a real situation. As the first deputy entered the school, he quickly knew where to go. Within minutes more law enforcement arrived on scene.

The sheriffs cleared the darkened hallways and rooms as the cries from the injured got louder. Some were assigned to help transport the wounded while others searched for the suspect.

The entire training session took about an hour and a half. By the end, the suspect was located and the premises secured.

For Emily Polo, she says the training was very realistic.

Emily Polo said, "You felt like that could happen to you eventually.”

After the officers cleared the building it was time to hear how they did.

Andy Casavant with WCSO said, "It went exactly how I expected. It was very chaotic. If we had an instance like this take place now these officers that were involved would have responded better than they would have two hours ago. We're just going to keep building and building."

The next session will be held Friday the 25th. After that is complete, sheriffs will move to another school and run the same training, but with added distractions.