FSC Holds “Active Shooter” Training for Local Law Enforcement
January 18, 2016
One hundred and fifty police officers from seven local law enforcement agencies were at Nold Hall on Friday, January 8, to receive intensive training on how to best respond to active shooter situations. Organized by FSC’s University Police Chief Marvin Fischer, and co-sponsored by the Emergency Services Section of the Suffolk County Police Department, the event was the first of its kind on the FSC campus.
Officers responded to situations such as shooters with assault rifles, pipe bombs and hand grenades left throughout the building, and a potential suicide bomber. Both police and shooters wore protective gear and used special weapons that fired green ‘paint shells.’ If an officer missed spotting an aggressor, for example, he or she may have may have sustained injury from that individual.
According to Chief Fischer, “Recent events have shown that a coordinated response from multiple agencies is necessary when an active shooter event occurs. In order for officers to be prepared, they must train with one another. Opportunities to train in an actual building are difficult to find, but President Keen recognized the importance of trainings like this and made our facilities available. ”
Agencies that participated in the drill included Farmingdale’s University Police as well as University Police from SUNY’s Old Westbury and Stony Brook campuses, Nassau and Suffolk police departments, NYS Park Police, and NYS Police.
